Now with Team Canada after layoff: What’s behind Tomlinson’s return to the gang?

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Both were surprised when the call came. But now, Larry Mitchell and Jeff Tomlinson are flattered to be part of Team Canada’s coaching staff at the Spengler Cup. The two Kloten Canadians were reported as assistant coaches to head coach Bruce Boudreau (68), who was fired by the Vancouver Canucks at the end of January.

This caused surprise in hockey Switzerland, especially in the case of Tomlinson. As a reminder: after promotion in 2022 and after a surprisingly strong NL season, the 53-year-old gave up his coaching position in Kloten with a heavy heart for health reasons. He could no longer bear the burden that comes with being a head coach.

Now back to the gang. Does it mean the coaching comeback of the two-time promotion coach (Lakers, Kloten)? “No,” Tomlinson waves off, “for me that is only possible for four games because my role with Team Canada is much smaller than if I were to take over a club team.” His job is to bring experience and his strengths in team building.

Tomlinson knows the Canadian players from the local league very well. Because the communication process is the shortest, he remains on the board. Additionally: Because former NHL head coach Boudreau (Vancouver, Minnesota, Anaheim, Washington) is unfamiliar with the larger ice surface, practices will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Shorter communication path for the gang

With Tomlinson, Mitchell is responsible for the power play. As Kloten’s sports director and interim coach, the 56-year-old knows which positions the NL Canadians play in their clubs’ respective power plays. They are now maintaining this, which helps in this short preparation time with only one training for the first performance. Because for Team Canada, the shame of last year’s tournament is a current issue. It couldn’t win a single match. “A lot of thought has gone into what can be improved,” says Tomlinson, “it certainly won’t be a walk in the park.”

It was clear to Tomlinson and Mitchell that they did not want to miss the unique Spengler Cup experience with Team Canada. Tomlinson had to turn down an initial request from the Canadians for the Germany Cup in 2010 for personal reasons. “I regretted that for a long time and extremely,” he remembers. But Team Canada GM Brad Pascall remembered Tomlinson four years later, and in 2014 he was even called up as head coach for the Germany Cup. “I personally thanked Brad for this and for the current opportunity.” In 2006, Tomlinson was already present at the traditional tournament in Davos, as assistant coach of Eisbären Berlin.

For Mitchell, it is his debut for Team Canada. Still, he hesitated for a moment after the request. “I wasn’t sure if it was possible for me to be away from the team these days in my dual role as coach and sports director in Kloten,” he explains. But the club supports him. His assistants Kimmo Rintanen and Saku Martikainen will take over the upcoming training sessions in New Year’s Eve week.

Source : Blick