Sen började serien och sedan dess är jag mer än nöjd med våran nya målvakt. Som med sitt spel lugnat mig. Om vi inte gör en bra säsong kommer det inte hänga på målvakten. Jag har ju också jagat Chet för en intervju och nu har jag fått till den.
Ber redan nu om ursäkt för min inte helt felfria Engelska, men för att väga upp det så är Chet grym på just Engelska. ;-)
A few weeks in Sweden, how do you like it spo far? The first time here?
Stockholm has been awesome to me.. It is my first time ever being overseas and the transition from home to here has been so easy. Everyone speaks good English, everyone is so nice and the city is great! It is going to be hard to leave this city one day! My teammates and coaches are great and the fans have been awesome in welcoming me to the team!
Also a fem weeks of Swedish hockey. What changes to your game have you been forced to do?
The hockey is really good, the transition has been pretty smooth, I think going from small ice in North America to big ice is easier than going from big ice to small.. I feel I have more time, can be more patient and can read the plays better. Having said that the players are all very skilled here and I feel the majority of the shots are tough ones. It is more of a puck possession game and more skilled. I have worked lots on simplifying my game.. Proper technique and being more in control.
Whats the biggest difference for you as a goalie playing in the US?
The biggest difference has got to be that for the most part the player with the puck looks to pass before shoot.. In North America as soon as the player crosses the blue line the puck is shot, mostly because the ice is smaller so every shot is a good shot. Here you have to be more patient, stay on your feet and read the play.
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| Foto: Johanna Lundberg http://johannalundberg.net/ |
How much do you work with goaliecoach Anders? What do you work the most on?
Anders is here about 4 times a week, and for every home game.. We do lots of video, all the situations from games and also we videotape practice. I think it is the best way to learn. By seeing yourself doing something first hand on video it is way easier to correct it or see that what you did was right. He videotapes on his iPad sometimes so that during drills while the coaches are talking we can see the video from the previous drill and make a change that quickly! It's awesome. We have mostly worked on, my technique in tight, post knee up positions, sealing the ice and plays from behind the net. We also work on hitting the posts, so that I don't drift outside of my crease and get out of position. I feel in the short time I have been here that there is a big difference in my play. I feel more controlled in the net, and a lot more confident in my technique. My relationship with Anders is great, and I think that is the most important thing with a goalie coach. He has to be your friend because goalies are on there own island out there, but he also has to tell you how it is sometimes. I am very happy to have a guy like him helping me out this year, he really knows his stuff and we are really on the same page with what I have to get better at to take my game to the next level! It's awesome!!
How would you describe yourself as a goalie? Whats the strongest part of your game?
Myself as a goalie, well their isn't one word to describe me, I do whatever it takes to stop the puck. For the most part I want to make it look easy and with proper technique but it doesn't always work that way! I am a strong skater, very quick on my feet, I like to be on my feet as much as possible. I like to use my glove to catch as many pucks as possible to slow the game down. I am good at playing the puck. I will never quit on a puck, if I have to dive across the net I will. Lastly I will never be out worked.
Whats the difference working with Anders and working with goaliecoaches in the US?
Working with anders has been awesome. We really understand each other. We are on the same page in terms of what we have to work on to get my game to the next level. I have ideas for him and he has ideas for me, we put them together and it's great! He has a lot of experience and really knows what he is doing. Video, video, video.. It's the best way to make the changes. Repetition as well, everyday we work on similar things that we felt had to be changed ASAP... And by doing it so many times it is a habit now. ( I am talking about hitting my posts and not drifting away). It has only been a short time with Anders but I feel we have a very good connection. He wants whats best for me, because if i succeed, the team succeeds, he succeeds and it is great for everyone. He is the best goalie coach I have ever had and I am very fortunate to have a guy like him by my side.
Whats you opinion about Djurgårdens fans?
The Djurgarden fans are incredible. I don't know how to describe it to people back home. They are very passionate about the team. The chants they do the whole game are awesome, I have no idea what they are saying but it is awesome.. I think the best thing about them is that they get hockey, they understand the game. Against Karlskoga I allowed a bad goal which costed us the game pretty much.. I was nervous to see what people said on twitter after the game. I opened it up when I got home and it was nothing but support! That meant a lot to me. I appreciated all the support so much, it changed my mood immediately! I love the fans here, and can't wait to celebrate many wins with them this year :)
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| Foto: Johanna Lundberg http://johannalundberg.net |
It wasn't an easy decision to come at the time. I didn't know what to expect, didn't know much about the team or the league or anything so I think what made it hard was the fact I didn't know anything about the opportunity at hand. The biggest influence in my decision was Anders Lindback. After talking to him about the opportunity, the team and the city it was a easy decision. And now that I am here it is the best decision I have ever made. It is a fresh start for me personally and I do believe it is going to be great!
I have heard Djurgården fans wondering if you gonna get a Djurgården mask. Will you get one? :)
My mask is in the works.. It is going to be great, I let our equipment/trainer/everything guy Johan design it. Daveart is painting it here in Sweden, we came up with the ideas for it a while ago but daveart is so busy with other helmets that we have to wait a little bit, it shouldn't be too much longer! I also have all new reebok gear coming in any day that will match our team colors. I signed on with the team so late that we didn't order any gear until I got here and that time of year is the busiest so it takes a while! Can't wait to get it all in and show it off to the fans!
So after a fem week with the team, which player spends the most time in front of the mirror getting the hair look right?
We have a lot of good hair on this team.. I think nils andersson has the best hair on the team but for sure Sorensen spends the most time in front of the mirror. My hair has no hope of looking good so I don't even bother trying to fix it.
How much did you know about Swedish hockey before signing with Djurgården?
I knew quite a few Swedish players from watching the NHL.. They are all so skilled.. And every Swedish player I have ever met has always been so nice. The biggest thing I think you see these days is all the great goalies coming from Sweden! I ask myself, is it something in the water? Every year their are a few big names who sign in the NHL. I think it is the coaching they get from such a young age. The few guys my age who I have skated with, Anders Lindback, Jacob Markstrom and Eddie Lack.. Those guys are all Swedish and are all going to be great NHL goalies. Over the first few weeks of the regular season we have played many good goalies and I get to watch Adam Reidenborn in practice every day, another great Swedish goalie :). Hopefully I can continue the tradition of great goalies coming from Sweden!
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| Foto: Johanna Lundberg http://johannalundberg.net |
Verkar vara en skön kille den här nya keepern Chet Pickard måste jag säga! Ödmjuk, och målmedveten. Mina intryck av honom blir bättre och bättre. Han började sitt mail.
Hey man.. Sorry for the time it took me to respond. Thanks for having me in your blog :)
Då svarade han inom ett dygn på mitt mail. Sånt gillar jag! När hockeyspelare återigen visar upp den där ödmjuka och tillgängliga sidan! Mycket bra!
Det ska bli riktigt kul att fortsätta följa Chet i Djurgården. Fortsätter han spela som han gör nu så är det bara hoppas att kontraktet förlängs!
Vi tacka Chet som tog sig tid svara på mina frågor!
Vi hörs!
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