CHELMSFORD, UK – Chelmsford ice hockey head coach Dean Birrell has given Pro Hockey News an exclusive interview ahead of the upcoming English National League season. The Chieftains have recently added former junior Alex Green to their squad. Green has had a season out and Birrell was asked why he was brought into the side.
âWhen he came to the trials my thoughts were âthis kid has still got it and is still a good playerâsaid Birrell. âHe is a big physical lad and Iâll be looking to him to play that style, but he does have a lot of hockey skills in his locker, but he, like everyone else, will have to prove himself on the iceâ.
With now eight defencemen and 11 forwards on the roster the question was raised about the possibility of 4 line hockey being played.
âIâm not really in favour of playing four lines as very rarely is it constructive to the team during games,â said Birrell. âWe have a big squad, but my aim is to probably keep to three line hockey and use the spares as and where needed.â
As in any season, injuries will mount, as well as players having commitments away from hockey. The âsparesâ who donât necessarily play as often will be expected to perform on the ice when they get their opportunity. Birrell was quick to say that is the spares do acquit themselves well on the ice the opportunity will lead to possible line changes and more ice time.
Birrell was also quick to play down allegations that the Chieftains are playing âchequebook hockeyâ and being one of the high spenders in the league.
âOur philosophy hasnât changed from last season and weâre still employing the philosophy of âlocal lads firstâ. There is no point in the junior system developing players for them to then go off elsewhere and the senior side be spending our money to bring in players from other places as that will only end up putting us back into financial problems and we are very wary of all of the clubâs spend and are trying very hard to keep costs to a minimum,â said Birrell in defending the team philosophy.
âOther teams are flying in non-EIHA trained players from elsewhere which is good as it helps the league grow, but it costs a lot of money and those players wonât necessarily stay around for long periods of time. For the return on the investments, weâd rather keep to guys who are already based here and are of a standard that can fit in with the team and do a job, which is why we have stuck with Jerry Pavlus and Rudi Dzurko,â added Birrell.
âI am expecting to see a different style from Dzurko this season as I feel he has a chance to play his more natural game and I believe he will surprise a fair few at just how good he really is. Jerry is Jerry and will always pick up points, but as I say everyone needs to step their game up this year and Jerry is no differentâ.
The main crux of the allegations have come from fans of the Chieftainsâ big rivals, Invicta Dynamos, who they themselves are spending a fair bit of cash themselves this summer by bringing in top forward Joe Johnston from Streatham and two imports in the form of Canadian Peter Vaisanen and Swede Johan Stenvall.
Birrell had noted that too, âI think Invicta have built themselves a strong side, as they always do. They will be right up there challenging along with Wightlink Raiders, Bracknell Hornets, Cardiff Devils and for me the dark horses of the league this Oxford City Stars.â
Birrellâs former side, Streatham Redskins, look like they are one of the favourites to go down this year after losing top net minder in Shane Kemp as well as Johnston, as well as 2-3 other players who have left to join other ENL sides.
âIt pains me to see things and how things have gone since I left there. I had a wonderful time there and the fans were great and really donât deserve to see their team being ripped apart like that, but unfortunately hockey is one of those sports where there is little loyalty and players come and go all the time,â added Birrell. âI hope that they can bounce back as the fans deserve nothing less than a competitive and successful side on the ice.â
The Scotsman then went on to give his thoughts on the Chieftains opening games of the season at Milton Keynes Thunder on the 5th of September followed the next day by a home encounter with Haringey Greyhounds.
âIâm expecting both to be tougher than last yearâs games that we played against them in the cup. MK is never an easy place to go to with their bigger ice and I think that will aid the Thunder. We embarrassed the Greyhounds last year with the performances we put in and showed them up and they will rightly be out for some revenge. Weâre looking to get all our home games won and then pick up what we can on the road, but weâre not expecting to go into any games with the result âin the bagâ. No side will be a pushover and that is only good for the league and fansâ said Birrell.
Contact Pepte.lewis@prohockeynews.com
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