The new HCD trainer hasn’t been to Canada since 2009: Holden’s home is now the mountains

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

No wonder Josh Holden quickly feels at home in Davos. «This view is beautiful. “It reminds me of my youth in Western Canada,” says the new HCD trainer as he looks into the distance at Schatzalp. Holden would have had enough reason for initial unrest in the mountain community of Graubünden.

It is not a warm welcome that most HCD supporters give him. His effort causes a lot of commotion, but none of the enthusiasm. “While signing autographs, fans told me they hated me as a player.” The 45-year-old tells this without sadness and with some understanding. “But I’m working to convince them otherwise.” And mischievously: “At least they noticed me as a player.” But the player Holden and the coach Holden are two completely different people.

The Canadian, who has also had a Swiss passport for five years, was perceived as unmanageable on the ice. His long dark hair, which always flowed from under his helmet, gave the former striker (Zug, Langnau, Friborg) something wild that somehow suited him. Was he coachable to his coaches? He considered. “As far as my performance is concerned, yes.” Whether he should have adjusted his playing style – especially in his younger years – depended on how and with what arguments the coach in question sold it to him.

Walking – lost four kilos

His strong personality as a player means that as a coach he can now look at certain situations from different perspectives. Although Holden emphasizes that he wants – and can – separate his life as a player and that as a coach. “That is also the reason why I got this opportunity here in Davos,” he is convinced.

Holden’s transition in Zug from player to assistant coach went smoothly, but at EVZ he had the perfect teacher. The name Dan Tangnes comes up often during the walk above Schatzalp. Holden has already found his first favorite spot here. He walks here from home several times a week with his wife Janie and family dog ​​Lumi. He also travels on foot. “That’s why I’ve already lost four kilos,” he grins.

The Holden family base is still in Baar ZG. The daughters Noa (22), Maren (21) and Kapri (18) go to school and train. “My wife Janie is actually the general manager of the family.” She commutes between Unterland and Graubünden, and his center of life has been Davos since the end of April. And his home country Switzerland? “By nature. I only go on holiday in North America.” Mostly in Arizona, his wife’s birthplace. Holden was last in his native Canada in 2009 when his father died. Switzerland captured his heart 18 years ago. The decisive factor was the – in retrospect – strange decision to move to Morges, in the then NLB. He did not play a match for the club because it offered anything but professional structures. But Gottéron became aware of the Canadian striker. That is where his career takes off.

Friendship with EVZ coach Tangnes

But back to Dan Tangnes. They maintain a friendship and are in regular contact. Holden calls him mentor or “crazy Norwegian.” He knows about it, so you can write it. When EVZ sports director Reto Kläy asked him for an interview in 2018, Tangnes was there. “He challenged me for two hours,” Holden says. When he openly reveals his ultimate goal of wanting to one day become a head coach, Tangnes promises to help him achieve it.

And now he’s here, with the HCD gang. “I worked hard to earn this contract here.” Knowing that he is guaranteed to turn heads during his head coaching debut, a good foundation has been laid for him in Davos. He played with assistant Glen Metropolit (49, Ka), and he knows assistant Walteri Immonen (56, Fi) from their shared EVZ times. “Knowing both personalities helps me.”

Holden grew up in Canada with the military coaching style that was prevalent at the time, which was: “If you don’t do what I tell you, someone else will.” The 2012 Spengler Cup winner, on the other hand, wants to support and challenge his players with a strong feedback culture, as he learned in Zug. “I want to build something here,” says Holden and gets into the cable car, from where he enjoys the view again on the way to the village.

Source : Blick