“Spending Christmas in Switzerland might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
That’s from Prince George Cougars associate coach Jim Playfair who will be on the Canada coaching staff at the Spengler Cup, which begins in one week’s time.
Playfair will coach alongside longtime NHL bench boss Bruce Boudreau – someone he has known for four decades.
He said after getting the green light from Cougars ownership, the overseas trip will serve a dual purpose.
“We saw value in it, not only for me but I think we can gather information from different coaches and see if there is not something we can add to our ideas and our philosophies here in Prince George.”
Team Canada is run by Joe Thornton, a 23-year NHL veteran – Playfair jokingly admitted the coaching staff will have a jersey ready for “Jumbo Joe” if he wants to lace them up again.
“Bruce brought up the fact we should make at least one more jersey with 97 (on the back) and see if Joe wants one last hurrah playing for us instead of against us. We both had our hands full trying to control him on the power-play and five-on-five. It’s pretty neat when the game offers up opportunities to come full circle with friends.”
It will be a whirlwind Christmas for Playfair and his wife, who will be spending four days in the Okanagan with their son Jackson and his significant other along with the grand kids.
From there, they will head to Switzerland via Vancouver for the tournament where they are expected to be joined by their two other sons Dylan and Austyn.
“Team Canada treats this and our families as something very special. When the opportunity was offered up to share with our kids, we certainly looked into who was available to go.”
“If we can get two out of our three children to come and join the experience that would be pretty awesome.”
Playfair has had a long-standing relationship with Boudreau – one that has lasted four decades, which began as players in 1985-86 with the Nova Scotia Oilers.
“We played together when I was about 21 years old and are friends who remain in contact for our entire coaching career. It is one of those opportunities where he was out of work and looking to get back into the game.”
“It’s a good opportunity for both of us – like I say, we have been friends for a long time and we look forward to sharing this with our families and friends and see if we can’t get a Spengler Cup win for Canada.”
Canada’s first game is Boxing Day against Frolunda HC out of Sweden.