Hanlon's car ride with Daniel Frank: How it all began at HCB

Before the playoffs come to a head, we met with the former NHL coach and talked to him about his attention to detail, the special nature of the South Tyrolean players and Bolzano's problems with discipline. The 66-year-old Canadian also gave us an anecdote from last summer.

Last summer you said in a SportNews interview that it was important to get the players behind you. You obviously succeeded. What remedies did you use?

Glen Hanlon: “I don’t have any special tools. Here in Bolzano I am lucky to work with team players. They're all really good guys who put themselves fully into the service of the team, who listen to me, but also listen to each other. We managed to form a unit.”

No other coach has scored more than 100 regular-season points with HC Bozen in the ICEHL. How proud does that make you?

“I have never sat back and patted myself on the back for what I have achieved. I don't even have the time. I simply delve far too deeply into the matter for that, always thinking about the next game preparation, the coaching and the subsequent match analysis. I live this rhythm as a coach, for me that is ice hockey. Sure, at the end of a season you analyze certain things, but for me it's not about numbers, but about the human factor and the question: How did I deal with certain situations? Was my approach the right one?”

The players describe you as an easy-going guy who seems calm and relaxed. Coaches of this kind have often failed in Bolzano in the past. What sets you apart from your predecessors?

“I don’t like comparisons like that. Sometimes a coach's personality and character just don't fit the team, but that doesn't mean that my predecessors were bad. For me, respectful interaction and the willingness to walk a common path are my top priority. Both were given from day one. The chemistry between the players, but also between the players and the support staff, is just right. There is no prima donna in Bolzano.”

Glen Hanlon's words resonate with the players. © Vanna Antonello

You played 512 NHL games as a goalie, the great Wayne Gretzky scored his first career goal against you, and you later coached stars like Alex Ovechkin. What experiences have shaped you?

“The superstars in North America and semi-professionals from Hungary or Italy have one thing in common: their love for ice hockey. This is my takeaway from all these years, not just any title, game or moment. In the end it's all about the passion for this sport. Anyone who doesn’t put their heart and soul into it will fall by the wayside.”

You are considered a shrewd observer, someone who meticulously analyzes games and players. Are you obsessed with details?

“No, I just love watching hockey (laughs). Seriously: Video coaching, analysis and opponent observation are very important components of the coaching profession these days. I try not to get caught up in the details, but rather to bring my boys closer to the game as a whole and show them solutions to certain game situations. I could sit in front of the screen and fast forward and rewind for hours and it wouldn't bother me. But ice hockey is far too complex to limit yourself to analysis alone.” “We sat down and talked about it for a long time.” Hanlon about the many penalties his players received Apart from the analysis, where have you improved the HCB in the last few months?

“It is neither an improvement nor an achievement on my part, but rather a development that I am happy to observe. This team has grown closer together than almost any other that I have ever looked after. There is so much energy in this dressing room, bonds and friendships have been formed over the months that extend far beyond ice hockey. That is beautiful. I really enjoy being in this hall because it feels like a big family. It’s not that bad that my real family is thousands of kilometers away in Canada.”

When did you understand which players on this team can take responsibility?

“The decision to appoint Daniel Frank as captain was formally given to me by sports director Dieter Knoll and my assistant Fabio Armani, who have known him for a long time. Before the season started, I sat alone in the car with Daniel for hours on a trip to a charity event in Carinthia and we talked about God and the world. We talked about Italian ice hockey, about the Bolzano fans, about South Tyrolean culture, but also about normal things in life. Then I understood that he was indeed the right man. A group of players has formed around him, all of whom have been in Bolzano for several years. You care about the club and its fans. You automatically slipped into the role of the leader.”

Bolzano is one of the teams with the most penalty minutes in the league. Could that become a problem?

“The HCB stands for hard, physical, passionate ice hockey. That's what makes us successful and we'll never change that. But I know what you are aiming at with your question and I have to agree with you on one point: we must not go too far. We have to be able to control emotions. We sat down and talked about it for a long time. Everyone is aware of what is at stake from now on.” “What is different in Bolzano than everywhere else is the attitude of the local players.” Glen Hanlon You mentioned discipline. What else is crucial in the playoffs?

“In the playoffs, everything is on the line, which automatically causes stress, pressure and tension for players. I'm sure a certain routine helps to deal with it. This ranges from daily processes to the type of coaching. I'm trying to tweak small screws, work on fine-tuning without throwing a lot of things out the window. In English we use the term overcoaching. That’s exactly what I try to avoid as much as possible.”

You have worked as a trainer in 9 different countries. What makes Bolzano different from other workplaces?

“I try to absorb something from every country, every culture and learn new things even in my old age. I came to Bolzano with this intention. It's beautiful here, the fans are incredible. But what is really different in Bolzano than everywhere else is the attitude of the local players. Ice hockey isn't something you're born with here, and there's no big money to be made here either. You have to tough it out. The boys do this every day – and do it with great passion. And that brings us back to my favorite term, passion.”

Is there anything you would like to say to the Bolzano fans before the start of the playoffs?

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Klagenfurt	47	183:101	102
2. Fehervar	46	146:126	89
3. Salzburg	46	142:107	87
4. HCB South Tyrol	46	137:125	76
5. Linz	46	146:116	75
6. Villach	46	155:136	74
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Hanlon's car ride with Daniel Frank: How it all began at HCB

No one has been as successful as him at HCB Südtirol Alperia in recent years, and no other coach has been as popular with the players. We're talking about Glen Hanlon. His mission now is: bring the championship title to Bolzano!

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