Derek Laxdal
Derek Laxdal
Derek Laxdalis a former professional ice hockey right winger. Since 2014 he has been head coach of the AHL Texas Stars. Previously he served as head coach of the WHL Edmonton Oil Kings and the ECHL Idaho Steelheads. Laxdal led the Steelheads to the Kelly Cup championship in the 2006–07 season and won the 2014 Memorial Cup with the Oil Kings...
beat game guys points
I told the guys we'd feel a lot better after the game if we won. ... Right now we're beat up and sick, so we'll take points any way we can.
effort finish great guys kept start
I thought from start to finish the guys put in a great effort tonight. I thought they kept buzzing, buzzing.
battling competition good guys healthy hockey pull within work
You want your goaltenders to be good friends and want to work for each other and pull for each other. Competition is very good within a team, but it has to be the right competition. If two guys are battling and they don't want each other to do well, then it's not healthy for your hockey club.
lost reason talk talking
I don't want to talk about the refs. There's no use in talking about the refs. That's not the reason we lost the game. I'm more disappointed in my team.
coming dressing game last love
The big thing is, when you're coming to the end of your career, your love of the game intensifies. When you're in the dressing room, there's such a camaraderie. They're you're family. If it is your last year, then that magnifies it.
excitement
That's overtime. That's the excitement of the game.
boys
The boys were all over him for the celebration.
definitely disrespect good underdog
That said, I don't want to disrespect their record. They're a very good team. We're definitely the underdog, and we'll take that underdog role.
becomes captain contest pick popularity reason training
The reason I pick the captain is a lot of the times it becomes a popularity contest in training camp.
best hockey plants playoffs sun time
The playoffs are the best time of the year. The sun is shining. The plants are budding, and playoff hockey is in the air.
coming good solid sure
We have a big one coming up in Alaska. We've got to make sure we go up there and play solid hockey. It will be a good test.
mentally physically team
We're a physically and mentally fatigued team right now.