Off to the Semi-finals

Me and new Liney Brett

High five's for the bench after a goal

Alexi would be happy. Headddd upppp!!

In the shot lane. Sort of!!!

No call here. Looks like a slash to me.

Taping stick. Very Superstitious about my stick!!!

A big win last night puts us into the Semi-finals with home ice advantage (best of 7 ).  This next round should be a hard fought series.  Our first game is on Friday March 11th. Last nights game was a TV game but Im having trouble posting highlights.  We won 4-1 and from start to finish we dominated the game. Our opponents were real cocky. It was one of those games where you wish there was fighting (no fighting in Europe).  I know you are all thinking that the little guy doesnt fight, but I've been known to throw them in the past. Anyways it was a big win for the team and we can move on to next round.

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

HUGE WIN 4-1 !!!!!

The butterflies were present before the game started last night. When you have the "butterflies" before a game you know you are ready. Coach said this before the game and Im going to have to agree with him on this one. I usually don't get nervous before games, but last night I was feeling it.
We scored the first goal of the game and you can tell after guys were back to normal. We played playoff hockey last night and came out on top. A well deserved win!! 4-1. One of the key's to our win was our hard work and relentlessness to loose pucks. We were hungry all over the ice, resulting in puck possession which allowed scoring chances. we had 4 different guy score last night, including myself (2nd goal I score on a wrist shot from the slot). Its always a good sign when you have different guys scoring. We need all cyclinders going in playoff hockey in order to capture the gold helmet. Next game is Sunday at home.

Interview with Jason and coach Mario

UGLY!!! Lost 6-1

Alfie Michaud our goalie that is still out with an injury said it like this....... They played playoff hockey and we played regular season hockey. He's exactly right!!! We did not play playoff hockey, but the past is the past. Our next game is on Wednesday at home where we need a win. Our captain Kim after the game told us to all go home and think of something that motivates ourselves. A quote, a poem, a picture etc... After you find something, bring it back to the locker room and we will put all of them on a wall. It’s hard for me because there really isn’t one thing that motivates me. I mean a million things go through my head on game day. As Jenn would tell me... Jason you are a spazz!! The basic things I think of on game day are the well being of the players on both teams and that each player stays injured free. After that I thank loved ones that have passed, followed by knocking on my forehead and cup (13x times, Spazz!!). I than say a quick thanks to my parents for all they have given me. Lastly I think about my wife Jenn. Mostly thoughts of our wedding day actually (weird I know). I know if a coach could hear my thoughts, he would yell and me and say Jason get your head in the game. But, this is how I prepare for games. Some guys listen to music and get all pumped up, but for me I try to stay as calm as possible, which brings me to my quote/story.




ATTITUDE:

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, then circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, say, or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a TEAM, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our “ATTITUDE”.

Playoffs start tomorrow!!

It's that time of the year. It's the time of the year where every player gives that little extra in order to win a Championship. So many years playing at the pro level and I've never won a Championship. Last year in Germany I made it to the finals but lost. I still have a sour taste in my mouth from that. I'm on a mission this year to have that trident winter fresh feeling in my mouth.  "Knock on wood", if we win it this year each player is given a gold helmet for winning (See pic).  I want a Gold Helmet!!! 

Champion's.... Sonderjyske last year.

Last Regular season game highlights.

So we ended up losing in a shoot out, but we took 1st place in the regular season standings. Here are the highlights of the game. I had an assist on the first goal and scored our second!!! It went to a shoot out where I went 5 times... yes 5 times. I scored 3 times but it wasnt enough to secure us a win. Playoffs start Sunday. Ill be sure to post our results. A special thanks to Sonderjyske Support group for making these highlights possible!!!

Don't ask why. It get me pumped up for games!! Don't Judge me.

Pictures of me with the Pokal Cup!!!

SønderjyskE - AaB Ishockey 7-2-11

I score the second goal, you will see me fly (hence the word fly) into the zone with the puck and try to go left and pass across the front of the net but im hooked (delayed penalty). I still manage to get the pass across but their guy hits it into his own net. Ill take it!!!!

Daryl Andrews #33 smokes team mate Stephan Frank!!! Funny but not!!

Pokal Champions!!!

So throughout the year we have had these Pokal games.  They don’t count towards regular season games.  Its pretty much a mini playoff inside the regular season to see who is the best Danish team. We did this in Germany last season and at first didn’t really think it was such a big deal. Oh I was wrong Last night’s game was the biggest game of the year. It was a sold out arena again that resulted with us winning 2-1. I have to admit I had butterflies before the game because of all the hype.  When the buzzer went off to end the game, off came the gloves followed by champagne and Cuban cigars!!!  It was a hard earned victory by the team which left Sonderjykse fans with ear to ear grins.  We were given the green light to have a good time last night and indeed the city of Vojens did so. Now we are focused on our last 4 regular season games and look forward to starting playoffs with high expectations of winning the Cup!!!

Sønderjyske - Aab 5-2-11

SønderjyskE - Hvidovre Ligahockey 3/2-11

Highlights from Thursdays game. I had the assist on the first goal we scored. I come out of the far corner and make a pass to #33 Andrews (he shot lower blocker).  Second goal was scored by my liney Kim who got a pass from the other team right in the slot, whoops!!!! He fired it lower glove!!! The last goal was an empty net goal by Gumbo who proceeded to jump on the glass after he scored the empyt netter. FINE!!!!!!!!!!

Opening night at New Rink. Full House!!

Moving into new Rink Saturday!!!!

Well our first practice in the new rink is this Saturday. We play at home on Sunday and its already sold out (5000 fans).  It should be an exciting game for the fans who have been waiting a long time for a new rink to be built. Its finally here!!!  Above are a few pictures of the rink as of this past week.

SønderjyskeE - Rødovre Highlights!!

Another big with for Sonderjyske!!! I had an assist on the 3rd goal. I come down the left side and make a sauce pass to my new line mate Kim (read about him in article below) as he takes a one timer for the goal. Kim and I would like to take credit for the nice goal but new line mate Dejan (read about him below) made the play happen, which you cant see. He made a nice play on the wall that gave Kim and myself the 2on1. Its hard to see me (#12) clearly because the drums are shaking the camera. On the 5th goal in the other end, you cant even see me in the right corner but I just threw the puck to the net and it snuck in behind the goalie. It was a lucky goal. It you look closely you will see the goalie has the puck and it drops between his legs and dribbles in. Ill take it.  Final score was 7-0!!!

Meet my New Line Mates!!

Finally some guys that are close to my size in height. In the picture above are my two new line mates. Dejan Matejic on the left is an import from Sweden that was the top scorer in the league last year. He is a highly skilled forward that when controlling the puck will always make something happen. He is very dangerous with the puck.  Dejan has great patience all over the ice and it’s the first time I’ve played with him. It’s been nothing but good things thus far.  To my right in the picture is Kim Lykkeskov, who I’ve played with before. Kim is a local player that is one of the best Danish players in Denmark. He has NHL speed and creates space for guys like Dejan and myself. Kim is our captain and is an icon of Sonderjyske hockey. Kim has all the tools to be the best player in the league. He shows up every night competing and making it frustrating for our opponents.  It’s fun playing with these two outstanding hockey players. Hopefully coach keeps us together!!!  If Stormy and Carlsen are reading this blog, no hard feelings guys hahaha. 

This past weekend we played in Belarus for the Continental Cup and many of our fans made the trip supporting Sonderjyske Hockey. It was amazing to see how dedicated our fans were. After the Bronze Medal game all players recieved medals. I thought it would be a nice gesture to give my medal to a fan that supported us in Minsk Belarus. So after last nights game I gave one of our fans my medal I recieved in the tournament.  Some might think why did  you do that, but I will never forget that experience and the medal is something that I feel our fans deserve. They are some of the best fans Ive encounterd in  my 4 years of playing in Europe. I'm thankful for their support and dedication to Sonderjyske Hockey!!!

Why would I play for Red Bull Salzburg!!!

FREE Red Bull!!!! That is why!!!   I remember when I played in the Austrain League two years ago and we would travel to play Red Bull I was always excited to get free Red Bull. I mean lets be serious here, Red Bull is pricey. When we were recently in Belarus playing them they gave us cases of Red Bull. THANK YOU!!!! I mean I live off Red Bull, not for the late night mix drinking purposes but for getting me pumped up before games. So when Salzburg offered us a few cases I was happy to take a few and fuel my body. I got wings!!!  After I started thinking that they werent just being nice offering us Red Bulls they were marketing it. Smart bastards I tell ya. The rich get richer!!! Plus every time I buy one of those cans Im just helping pay one of the guys salary. Hopefully they saw my sick skills on the ice hahaha, and offer me a contract of a life time Supply of Red Bull. Where do I sign!!!  I mean who doesnt know what Red Bull is. Its like the Golden Arches at Mcdonalds.
Im off to my home game now and just got thinking of Reb Bull because I have one chilled in the fridge ready for my tasting!!!  You're welcome Red Bull.

Bronze Medal In Minsk Belarus!!!

What can I say about Minsk Belarus..... It’s very interesting. It’s just….. different. Don’t get me wrong, different isn’t bad, its just ….different. I got a bit of a taste of what my buddy Ryan Vesce is dealing with in Russia (best of luck). I mean I’m all about trying new things and seeing new places, but eating fried fish for breakfast and getting spaghetti served with ketchup for dinner isn’t really me. I lost 8 pounds during the 4 day trip, mostly due to the hard work paying hockey of course.

The city of Minsk has about 2 million people and the country reminded me of Hungary lots. It was really difficult trying to speak to locals, they wanted no part of speaking English. Everywhere I went locals asked where I was from I quickly spit out I’m Canadian. I’m mean lets me honest here not too many people like American’s but for some reason everyone loves Canadians. So I was Canadian for the weekend when people off the streets asked where I was from. It was defiantly an experience to remember from our hotel rooms that were straight from the 60’s (no joke) to our police escort to every game from the hotel to rink. When we arrived to the rink for the first time it was like looking at an NHL arena. It was unreal!!!! The rink is better than the Nassau coliseum on Long Island, but then again that’s not saying much. The rink was amazing and everything was run very professional. I was impressed!!

The Tournament started Friday where we played the host from Belarus and lost 2-1. It was a really close and exciting game but in the end we couldn’t sneak out a win. On Saturday we played Salzburg Red Bull. This organization is one of the best clubs to play for in Europe. They are treated like NHL players. I mean they chartered a flight to Minsk while we debated taking a 30 hour bus. We flew thank god (not charter). Well we lost to Salzburg the next game 3-2. Once again playing really well against a top team, but we couldn’t manage a “W”. It was frustrating knowing that we were playing really well and still could muscle a win out. The final and 3rd game against a team from France, we won 3-2!!!! Winning this game, we (Denmark, Sonderjyske) made history. It’s the first time that any team from Denmark has finished 3rd in the Continental Cup. It’s a big accomplishment for the club. Coaches and Management were proud with our performances. 

Here is an article talking our team.

http://www.iihf.com/de/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/article/soenderjyske-grabs-bronze.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=187&cHash=24c3c0ccc8
Overall, it was a great experience and it’s another place I can check off in my book. Minsk Belarus (check).

The rink we played in!!! Minsk Belarus