Intervju med Edmontons målvaktstränare Frederic Chabot

Under mitt besök i Edmonton fick jag ju kontakt med Edmontons målvaktstränare Frederic Chabot. Som dels bjöd in mig att titta på morgonvärmningen inför matchen mot Vancouver, och sen gick ut och käkade lunch med mig efteråt. En väldigt trevlig lunch med ett intressant och roligt samtal. Jag mailade honom för ett tag sedan och frågade om han ville svara på lite frågor för bloggen, vilket han gjorde. Ber om ursäkt för min inte helt felfria Engelska.


You have worked with many goalie coaches from Europe. Do you think that have given you a different approach to the game and the way you’re helping your goalies?

Maybe in some areas, but the more I work in this field the more I enjoy meeting other coaches and sharing the different views and ideas about the game.

You have worked your way into the NHL and the Edmonton Oilers. What have you done and worked with before you signed with the Oilers?

I retired from playing in the spring of 2006 and jumped in with coaching full time right away. I had always coached kids in hockey schools during every summer since I was 18 years old. To make a living in this business, you have to be creative and ready to work lots of hours. So, at first, I gave private lessons, gave some of my time to minor hockey, got jobs in different hockey schools, worked as a consultant with Pro teams in Europe and worked in hockey academies. I got involve with Hockey Canada and Hockey Quebec to help develop and improve coaching curriculum and also support and coached the U20 and for Hockey Canada.

When we had lunch you said even though looking very different on the ice Viktor and Ben have the same tactics on the ice. How do you and your goalies want them to play?

I work hard with goalies to make sure that they have very good mobility. They have to be quick and in control as much on their feet as on their knees. They also use all the butterfly components to be able to answer the challenges of the NHL on plays in tight.

Without criticising Edmonton defence, but the games I watch last year your goalies had to work very hard just being square with the puck and working hard on rebounds. How do you train to prepare them for that? Is that possible?

It is a daily dose of work in tight and good habits like positioning, tracking, rebound control and recoveries.

In Sweden the goalie coaches are almost like a big family were everybody share their experiences and helping each other. Does it work the same in Canada/USA?

Yes and no, and I’m sure it is the same for you in Sweden. There are always guys with who it is easier to work with and share knowledge and new ideas.

What have you learned or taken with you in the way you coach from working in Europe and Sweden?

I really like the club system in Europe. It gives the coaches a chance to develop players and have a good follow-up year after year. I also like the amount of ice practices per week and the training off-ice as a team during the off season.

What do you think North American goalies are better at then European and the other way around? What can North American learn from Europeans and the other way around? If there is anything else?

With the advance of scouting, the coaching clinics and the internet, there are less and less differences.
Soon, we will all be similar and it is up to each athlete and coach to find ways to be better than the next guy. Train harder, smarter and when you think you’re it, you are getting passed by someone else.

When we met you talked about the very cool and good system Edmonton had do give you video clips from the games. Please tell about it again?

It is called PUCKS, it has simplify my work, less hours cutting video, video in HD, more time to scout and analyse other teams and our own goalies.

När jag och Fredric åt lunch förklarade han att han kunde få bilder på enbart målvakten från fyra eller fem kameror. Få klippen färdiga med bara målvaktssituationer. Så han behövde inte sitta med videokamera eller sitta och tagga matcherna. Verkade vara ett riktigt coolt system.

How is Viktor and Ben to work with?

Great, different characters, both have really high compete level and both appreciate the importance of practicing hard and working smart and simple.

Do you have contact with Ben and Viktor during summer or do they work by themselves then?

We exchange emails and phone calls every few weeks and they work by themselves until late August.
Because of the CBA, they have to ask me to work with them.

Do you scout the other team’s goalies, and giving reports before the games?

Yes, short reports most players don’t want to know too much, so they don’t get caught thinking during the play.

If you would give some advices to young goalies what would that be?

Work hard, compete hard, if you can’t skate, you can’t play, so skate lots, have fun and enjoy every minute you are on the ice.

How is life as a NHL goalie coach? :)

Fun and challenging.

Jag fick ett väldigt bra intryck av Frederic, han var väldigt trevlig och öppen. Jag såg hur han och Viktor jobbade under ispasset då jobbade dom med vinklar och SMS. Det kändes som Frederic var en modern målvaktstränare som tar in det nya och jobbar modernt. Jag pratade ju också lite med Viktor och Frederic, och han gillade honom och tyckte dom jobbade bra ihop.

Frederic har ju varit en hel del i Sverige och då jobbat med Stefan Persson och Michael Andreasson bland annat. Han pratade mycket om dom två under vår lunch. Frederic har varit en hel del i Sverige och jobbat med Micke, Stefan och Pierre Mocka.

Jag tycker ju Edmonton för första gången på flera säsonger startar en säsong med ett riktigt bra målvaktspar. Både Viktor och Ben är riktigt bra målvakter som båda har vad som krävs vara etta i NHL i mina ögon. Det ska bli riktigt roligt att se vad dom kan trigga varandra till säsongen som kommer. Jag kämpar ju via Twitter att få till en intervju med Ben. Viktor har ju ställt upp även det under en lunch i Edmonton.

Vi tacka Frederic som tog sig tid att svara på mina frågor.

Vi hörs!