Bruins captain Zdeno Chara has a strict rule that every player, no matter where they’re from, needs to speak English in the locker room and on the ice.
However, if linemates speak the same native tongue, they get a pass on the ice. That’s the case for Czech natives David Krejci and David Pastrnak. That’s one small reason why coach Bruce Cassidy likes having those two on the same line because they can communicate well on the ice. Krejci said it’s 80 percent English on the ice with Pastrnak. On the bench, it’s Czech.
“Sometimes those hockey phrases you already have them in your head [in English] like ‘reverse’ or ‘behind you’ or if there’s a puck in your feet you yell ‘feet’ or ‘skates.’ When I played on the national team you have to speak Czech and sometimes I just didn’t say anything because I couldn’t think in that split second whether to speak Czech or English,” explained Krejci. “With Pasta, it’s whatever comes first because he understands both languages well.”
Rookie Jake DeBrusk has been playing with Krejci and Pastrnak during training camp and he’s quickly learned how well those two communicate on the ice. When asked if they speak English, DeBrusk said with a laugh: “They don’t. It’s kind of funny, to be honest. I’m Canadian so I’m used to people speaking French, but sometimes they don’t, but today they were speaking English for me.”
Chara’s rule makes sense. He doesn’t want cliques in the locker room. Even when he plays for the Slovakian national team, since most players have played in the NHL or in North America, English is the go-to language on the ice.
“When I play on the national team we speak English because that’s what we’re used to and that’s going to be the most effective,” admitted Chara. “If you’re going to speak Slovak, there are more words to use and it’s going to take more time to explain on the ice. It would take three or four Slovak words so it’s easier to speak English.”
The last time Patrice Bergeron spoke French on the ice was when Jordan Caron played on the Bruins. Even when he’s playing for Team Canada the players speak English. When Bergeron was an 18-year-old rookie he didn’t speak English, so he played with Martin Lapointe and the two spoke French.
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The Bruins begin the preseason schedule against the Montreal Canadiens at Videotron Centre on Monday in Quebec. As of Saturday evening, Cassidy did not announce the roster, so Bergeron did not know whether or not he’ll play in his hometown.
“It’s always fun because you don’t get the chance to go there too often,” he said.
Bergeron has said on numerous occasions that he hopes the NHL eventually expands and there’s a team in Quebec. He grew up a Nordiques fan and was disappointed, like many hockey fans, when the team left in 1995.
“They know where I stand on that,” Bergeron said. “I’m just happy my hometown gets NHL a little bit at least and hopefully have a team all year.”
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Earlier this week, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin discussed his disappointment that the NHL is not participating in the upcoming Winter Olympics. Several, if not all, NHL players agree with the Russian superstar. Chara recently said he was holding out hope that the league would change its mind and allow NHLers to play in South Korea, but it’s not going to happen.
Bergeron has won two gold medals with Team Canada and he’s obviously disappointed he won’t get the opportunity in February to defend the title.
“Everyone watches it and it’s the biggest sporting event in the world,” Bergeron said. “You would like to have the best players in the world play in it, but it’s unfortunate.”
Bergeron was also a member of Team Canada’s championship club at the World Cup of Hockey last September.
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There’s been a lot of focus on the youth movement in camp and fans should be excited about the future of the organization. One player that hasn’t received a lot of fanfare has been 18-year-old forward Jack Studnicka. He’s opened some eyes during both rookie and main camps. He was one of the best players on the ice for the Prospects Challenge last weekend in Buffalo and he hasn’t looked out of place with the big boys.
“I think I’m fitting in well here,” he said. “I’m doing my best to be like a sponge. I’m trying to pick the brain of some established NHLers while I’m here and definitely learn. The pace is higher than rookie tournament and that was expected. I think I’ve adjusted well.”
Bergeron has made it a point to help Studnicka adjust to the pace and the two were even working on faceoffs after a recent practice. Boston selected him in the second round (No. 53 overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and he’ll return to junior for the upcoming season.
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This week’s edition of Drill of the Week focuses on receiving a pass and shooting. It’s a basic drill but it works on a quick release from three different high-percentage scoring areas. A coach stands in the corner and passes a puck to the player ready at the top of the circle. After the shot, the player quickly moves to the high slot for another pass and shot, before finishing with another shot above the crease. If you have only a half-ice practice, this drill can be done out of both corners. In the video, notice how right-hand and left-hand shots approach the drill.
Since many of you have asked, here’s the video from last Sunday’s Drill of the Week.
It’s a full-ice 2-on-1 drill. You put two cones on each blue line and red line about the length of the faceoff dots. Station one defenseman on each the blue, red and blue lines. The two forwards begin at the top of the faceoff circles and must attempt to posses the puck through the neutral zone and break in 2-on-0 on the goalie at the other end. If one of the defensemen breaks up the play, or the puck goes outside the cones, the play is dead.
Untitled from Boston Sports Journal on Vimeo.