Matthew Lapierre återvänder till Kungälv!

Matthew Lapierre kommer vara huvudtränare för J18 under de nästkommande två säsongerna. Matthew som var med och testade på som J18-tränare under förra säsongen återvände hem till Kanada för att studera. Nu vänder han återigen tillbaka till Kungälv vilket vi ser fram emot!

Nedan kan ni läsa en intervju med Matthew:

You went back to Canada for one year. How has the year been?

My year in Canada has been really educational one. From a hockey standpoint, I was reminded of the differences in the hockey cultures of Sweden and Canada. For my own personal development as a coach, it was great to see the different ways that different hockey cultures work to develop players. This hockey year has also allowed me to work with a great group of young men. The team has been committed to working hard and developing all year, which has allow us to go all the way to our league championship finals (which we are currently playing). It was also nice to be back in Canada for a year to see my family on a more consistent basis.

What made you come back to Sweden and Kungälv?

I think what pushed me to move back to Kungälv was the fact that in many ways, Kungälv feels like home to me. During my 3 years in Sweden, I made so many great connections with so many great people. Moving back to Canada for a year has allowed me to understand how special my experience was/will be in Kungälv.

What's your expectations for next season?

My focus for this upcoming year is to help the players develop as much as they can. Throughout my different experiences these past few years, I have found that focusing predominantly on development allows for the continued success of the group as a whole. I also want to work with the group to develop off the ice as well. I have learnt that part of being successful as a team relies not only on what you can do on the ice, but also in how well the group "gels" off the ice too.

For all the new players and parents, can you tell something about yourself and about your leadership?

I pride myself on trying to be a coach who is tough, but understanding too. I believe that at this level of hockey, it is so important to have high expectations for the players on the team. Holding players accountable is what helps them to continue their development. On the flip side, I also think being able to connect with the players to earn their respect is extremely important. It is a lot easier to work with a group of players if they feel like they have a coach who they can approach and talk to about different situations.

Welcome back, Matthew!