1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:16,107 Speaker 2: The Ice Blacks, that's our New Zealand men's ice hockey team, 4 00:00:16,227 --> 00:00:20,227 Speaker 2: are about to start the International Ice Hockey Federation twenty 5 00:00:20,307 --> 00:00:26,347 Speaker 2: twenty five World Championship Division two Group B tournament in Dunedin. 6 00:00:26,707 --> 00:00:29,427 Speaker 2: Ice Black's head coach is Cam Freer. He joins us 7 00:00:29,427 --> 00:00:33,067 Speaker 2: ahead of opening game tonight against Chinese Taipei. Cam, thanks 8 00:00:33,067 --> 00:00:35,187 Speaker 2: for taking the time for a chat. Tell us about 9 00:00:35,227 --> 00:00:39,347 Speaker 2: the schedule for the team this week. After Chinese Taipei 10 00:00:39,627 --> 00:00:42,027 Speaker 2: tonight in your opening game, then who do you face? 11 00:00:42,867 --> 00:00:45,707 Speaker 3: So yeah, Chinese Typeay tonight, and then we played Georgia 12 00:00:45,827 --> 00:00:49,227 Speaker 3: tomorrow night and then we have a day off and 13 00:00:49,787 --> 00:00:52,227 Speaker 3: to kind of recharge the batteries, and then from there 14 00:00:52,947 --> 00:00:56,227 Speaker 3: we played Thailand, then Bulgaria, then Iceland. 15 00:00:56,267 --> 00:00:59,227 Speaker 4: So yeah, our last game being next Saturday. 16 00:00:59,467 --> 00:01:01,747 Speaker 2: All right, So when you look at those nations, you'll 17 00:01:01,747 --> 00:01:07,107 Speaker 2: come up against who is likely to be your toughest opponent, you. 18 00:01:07,827 --> 00:01:09,027 Speaker 4: Would you would think Iceland. 19 00:01:09,147 --> 00:01:12,187 Speaker 3: Iceland was relegated from the division above last year, so 20 00:01:12,467 --> 00:01:15,787 Speaker 3: they'll be very strong. And then Georgia as well. We 21 00:01:15,867 --> 00:01:18,947 Speaker 3: beat Georgia managed to beat Georgia last year. But yeah, 22 00:01:18,987 --> 00:01:20,987 Speaker 3: they're a very strong ice hockey nation. 23 00:01:21,427 --> 00:01:24,347 Speaker 2: And it's just a full round robin, no semis, no final. 24 00:01:24,507 --> 00:01:27,347 Speaker 2: You just just whoever finishes top after the round robin. 25 00:01:27,387 --> 00:01:28,067 Speaker 2: Is that how it works? 26 00:01:28,267 --> 00:01:30,867 Speaker 3: Yeah, So whoever finishes tops you get three points for 27 00:01:31,027 --> 00:01:34,747 Speaker 3: a regular time win, two points for an overtime we'll 28 00:01:34,747 --> 00:01:39,267 Speaker 3: shootout win, or one point for an overtime will shootout loss, 29 00:01:39,267 --> 00:01:41,267 Speaker 3: and it's just whatever team has the most amount of 30 00:01:41,307 --> 00:01:43,547 Speaker 3: points after the five game round robin. 31 00:01:43,707 --> 00:01:46,467 Speaker 2: Now, of course, our women's team, the ice Ferns, claimed 32 00:01:46,467 --> 00:01:50,427 Speaker 2: silver at their recent equivalent, also played in Dunedin. How 33 00:01:50,467 --> 00:01:53,227 Speaker 2: motivated were you buy there if it only losing to Australia, 34 00:01:53,667 --> 00:01:56,227 Speaker 2: the eventual winners in an overtime shootout in their tournament. 35 00:01:56,587 --> 00:01:57,667 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's really motivating. 36 00:01:57,707 --> 00:02:00,107 Speaker 3: That did such a great job of representing ice hockey 37 00:02:00,147 --> 00:02:03,547 Speaker 3: New Zealand on the world stage, and yeah, we're. 38 00:02:03,267 --> 00:02:05,627 Speaker 4: Hoping to do just as well or hopefully try and 39 00:02:05,627 --> 00:02:06,147 Speaker 4: win this thing. 40 00:02:06,507 --> 00:02:09,227 Speaker 2: Tell us about the team you've assembled and the mix 41 00:02:09,267 --> 00:02:11,987 Speaker 2: of experience and youth that you have at your disposal 42 00:02:12,067 --> 00:02:12,507 Speaker 2: this week. 43 00:02:12,747 --> 00:02:14,707 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think the biggest thing is we looked to 44 00:02:15,067 --> 00:02:18,027 Speaker 3: find some experience so we've got you know, players that 45 00:02:18,067 --> 00:02:20,787 Speaker 3: have played up to fifty games like Jordan Challis for 46 00:02:20,827 --> 00:02:23,747 Speaker 3: the Ice Flax, and then you know other players that 47 00:02:23,787 --> 00:02:27,427 Speaker 3: have become naturalized like Colin Macintosh and Justin Diagel who 48 00:02:27,547 --> 00:02:32,187 Speaker 3: both playing professional hockey overseas, and so we've got a 49 00:02:32,187 --> 00:02:35,627 Speaker 3: lot of experience. But then we really have some strong 50 00:02:36,067 --> 00:02:40,587 Speaker 3: young players coming through Jacob Carey and we have four 51 00:02:40,667 --> 00:02:43,947 Speaker 3: other New Zealand under twenty players that were in the 52 00:02:43,947 --> 00:02:47,347 Speaker 3: team that won gold their respective gold this year as well. 53 00:02:47,587 --> 00:02:49,547 Speaker 2: The young players who take up the sport, I mean 54 00:02:49,587 --> 00:02:53,747 Speaker 2: it's not widely available in secondary schools is at all. 55 00:02:54,467 --> 00:02:57,827 Speaker 2: How do the young players who find their way to 56 00:02:57,907 --> 00:03:00,507 Speaker 2: the top level of the sport find their way into 57 00:03:00,547 --> 00:03:00,987 Speaker 2: the sport? 58 00:03:01,547 --> 00:03:03,827 Speaker 4: I think we've got ice hockey. Seon's done a. 59 00:03:03,867 --> 00:03:06,347 Speaker 3: Really good job at advertising and getting people into the 60 00:03:06,467 --> 00:03:09,667 Speaker 3: learned to play programs all around the country and from 61 00:03:09,707 --> 00:03:13,147 Speaker 3: there being able to develop them through that, And yeah, 62 00:03:13,147 --> 00:03:15,867 Speaker 3: they're doing a great job managing to we're seeing the 63 00:03:15,867 --> 00:03:18,987 Speaker 3: fruits of it now of having you know, five under 64 00:03:18,987 --> 00:03:21,987 Speaker 3: twenty players and the national men's team is just almost 65 00:03:22,067 --> 00:03:22,587 Speaker 3: unheard of. 66 00:03:22,667 --> 00:03:23,907 Speaker 4: So yeah, we're doing a great job. 67 00:03:24,147 --> 00:03:26,707 Speaker 2: Now, what about your own background, cam, what's your background 68 00:03:26,707 --> 00:03:27,227 Speaker 2: in the sport? 69 00:03:27,907 --> 00:03:32,547 Speaker 3: So I played for the Stampede, for the Sky City 70 00:03:32,547 --> 00:03:35,147 Speaker 3: Stampede for roughly one hundred and seventy games, and then 71 00:03:35,187 --> 00:03:38,107 Speaker 3: I played three seasons with the Dean Thunder as well. 72 00:03:38,187 --> 00:03:41,467 Speaker 4: So my background as a player. I played for the 73 00:03:41,507 --> 00:03:42,387 Speaker 4: Ice Blacks. 74 00:03:42,107 --> 00:03:45,587 Speaker 3: Back in twenty thirteen, and then I was injured in 75 00:03:45,627 --> 00:03:49,867 Speaker 3: twenty eighteen. And I've been coaching the Sky City Stampede 76 00:03:49,867 --> 00:03:52,187 Speaker 3: since twenty nineteen. So this would be my seventh year 77 00:03:52,187 --> 00:03:55,227 Speaker 3: as the head coach of the Stampede, and then this 78 00:03:55,267 --> 00:03:56,707 Speaker 3: is my second year with the Ice Blacks. 79 00:03:57,027 --> 00:04:00,027 Speaker 2: Did you always feel like you would move into coaching 80 00:04:00,467 --> 00:04:01,347 Speaker 2: while you were playing? 81 00:04:02,467 --> 00:04:05,827 Speaker 3: Honestly, no, you know, I ruptured my acellies playing touch 82 00:04:05,907 --> 00:04:09,187 Speaker 3: rugby and the summer, so your hot playing hockey for 83 00:04:09,267 --> 00:04:11,867 Speaker 3: one season was kind of not going to work out 84 00:04:11,907 --> 00:04:14,707 Speaker 3: for me. And we had a professional American coach in 85 00:04:14,787 --> 00:04:17,867 Speaker 3: Queenstown and he had to go home, and you know, 86 00:04:17,907 --> 00:04:20,747 Speaker 3: the kind of the stars aligned and the senior players 87 00:04:20,747 --> 00:04:22,467 Speaker 3: and the Stampede asked me to coach for a few 88 00:04:22,507 --> 00:04:25,667 Speaker 3: weeks while we found another coach and I'm still here 89 00:04:25,827 --> 00:04:26,827 Speaker 3: seven or eight years later. 90 00:04:28,147 --> 00:04:29,987 Speaker 2: Good stuff. Well, it must be. It must be in 91 00:04:30,027 --> 00:04:31,827 Speaker 2: the blood. And when you when you look to develop 92 00:04:31,827 --> 00:04:34,227 Speaker 2: yourself as a coach and look to do the best 93 00:04:34,227 --> 00:04:36,747 Speaker 2: possible job for the Ice Blacks, where where do you 94 00:04:36,987 --> 00:04:38,667 Speaker 2: Where do you take your inspiration from? 95 00:04:39,467 --> 00:04:41,267 Speaker 3: I think it's, you know, taking a little bit of 96 00:04:41,907 --> 00:04:44,307 Speaker 3: you know, what I thought made each coach that I've 97 00:04:44,307 --> 00:04:48,387 Speaker 3: had successful throughout and then you know, and then try 98 00:04:48,427 --> 00:04:50,227 Speaker 3: and apply there in a in a genuine way that 99 00:04:50,747 --> 00:04:54,947 Speaker 3: the players you know, find easy to digest. And then 100 00:04:54,947 --> 00:04:57,627 Speaker 3: for me, it's not just you know, coaches, it's it's 101 00:04:57,667 --> 00:04:59,787 Speaker 3: meeting people, you know, whether it's in business or whether 102 00:04:59,827 --> 00:05:01,107 Speaker 3: it's you know, in. 103 00:05:01,067 --> 00:05:02,907 Speaker 4: Life, and taking parts of what people do. 104 00:05:02,947 --> 00:05:05,627 Speaker 3: You know, whether they're a person could, they're personable, they're 105 00:05:05,627 --> 00:05:08,427 Speaker 3: a great speaker, You take parts of that and then 106 00:05:08,547 --> 00:05:10,387 Speaker 3: and then from there that kind of makes up you coaching. 107 00:05:10,387 --> 00:05:13,547 Speaker 3: And it's always moving as well as there's new information 108 00:05:13,627 --> 00:05:17,107 Speaker 3: available and different ways to communicate stuff, and you know, 109 00:05:17,147 --> 00:05:19,227 Speaker 3: with different generations, the way that you would talk to 110 00:05:19,267 --> 00:05:20,707 Speaker 3: people was a little bit different as well. 111 00:05:21,067 --> 00:05:23,107 Speaker 2: Love that and have you had any sort of any 112 00:05:23,107 --> 00:05:27,067 Speaker 2: sort of decent preparation leading to this week ahead? 113 00:05:27,387 --> 00:05:29,307 Speaker 3: Yes, So we've managed to be able to be in 114 00:05:29,387 --> 00:05:31,787 Speaker 3: Theodeeden for foremost of the week, so we've had about 115 00:05:31,827 --> 00:05:34,667 Speaker 3: six or seven trainings and then we had a an 116 00:05:34,707 --> 00:05:39,027 Speaker 3: exhibition match against like a Dunedin Thunder and canterbur Red 117 00:05:39,067 --> 00:05:42,787 Speaker 3: Devils combined team on Thursday. 118 00:05:42,827 --> 00:05:44,947 Speaker 2: Fantastic. And the ice how's the ice in to need? 119 00:05:44,987 --> 00:05:47,147 Speaker 2: And at the at the facility you'll be using. 120 00:05:47,507 --> 00:05:49,067 Speaker 4: Yeah, the facility looks amazing. 121 00:05:49,387 --> 00:05:51,347 Speaker 3: They've they've done such a good job of getting it 122 00:05:51,427 --> 00:05:54,067 Speaker 3: ready and yeah, we're really excited to be able to 123 00:05:54,067 --> 00:05:54,547 Speaker 3: play at home. 124 00:05:54,787 --> 00:05:57,187 Speaker 2: Outstanding. Well, all the best for a very exciting week 125 00:05:57,227 --> 00:05:59,827 Speaker 2: starting tonight against Chinese Taipei and then right across the 126 00:05:59,867 --> 00:06:02,947 Speaker 2: week until you met Iceland on Saturday. That's next Saturday. 127 00:06:02,987 --> 00:06:05,427 Speaker 2: That might even come in the form of some sort 128 00:06:05,467 --> 00:06:08,667 Speaker 2: of grand Fine arrangement. Hey, Cam, all the best to 129 00:06:08,707 --> 00:06:10,667 Speaker 2: you and the team mate. Thanks for taking the time 130 00:06:10,667 --> 00:06:11,347 Speaker 2: for a chat today. 131 00:06:11,627 --> 00:06:12,827 Speaker 4: Hey, thanks very much. Mate. 132 00:06:13,307 --> 00:06:16,507 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 133 00:06:16,587 --> 00:06:19,907 Speaker 1: to News Talks at b Weekends from midday or follow 134 00:06:19,947 --> 00:06:21,547 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.