(Interview) Colin Fraser has played 9 seasons in the National Hockey League and 6 seasons in the American Hockey League for several Hockeyteams (Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonoton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues) before he signed to Germany to the DEL Club of Nueremberg.

 

He has won two Stanley Cups in 2010 with Chicago Blackhawks and 2012 with Los Angeles Kings. During the season 2013 he played most at the Farmteam of the Los Angeles Kings the Manchester Monarchs, so his name was not placed on the Stanley Cup.

Birgit Eiblmaier met the new center of the Nueremberg Ice Tigers for this interesting interview.

 

How came you signed with the Ice Tigers ?


Last year when i was playing in the AHL i made the decision that i want to play overseas. So my agent made some phone calls and Nürnberg expressed most interest early on.


I didn´t know what to expect so i made some calls how about living in Germany -  and i got only positive reactions so the final decision was very easy for me.

 


What did you know about Nürnberg,  have you done some Googlerearches ?


Yes - I´ver never heard about Nürnberg before.


I´ve been to Hamburg and Berlin but never have been here. I knew a couple of guys playing on other teams and I knew that Brandon Segal and Kurtis Foster signed here as well, that mad it easier for me.

 


What was your first thought about Nürnberg ?


I was excited about the „Lifestyle“ - it´s totally different from living in North America.


In North America everybody everytime is  and crazy. Lifestyle here is a little bit more „ relaxed“ - not everything needs to be done right that second. And not to forget about this „ no speed limit“ on the Autobahn, that was an experience as well.

 


In another  interview a couple weeks ago you said you just got lucky to play on two teams that won the Stanley Cup – which win was more important for you ?


Well, the first one is always „ The First One“ - you work your whole life to win the Stanley Cup and it was unforgettable of course. But for me it was the second one with the LA Kings. Simply because i played every game. It feels like i contributed more on winning the Stanley Cup.  When i was in Chicago i was there all season but in the Play-Offs i only played 3 or 4 games.

 


How did you spent your days with the Cup ?


Each time i did kind of the same thing. I got the Cup in the morning then doing pics with my wife and the kids.


I also had a public event with fans to donate money for a new recreation center in town and also for doing pics with the Cup, for signing autographs and stuff like that. I also had a little party with relatives and close friends and we had some drinks and food in a restaurant. It was a lot of fun.

 


Now you wear  #46 – any special meaning ?


There is no special meaning. When you are a rookie in the NHL and you get to a camp they get you a number, and 46 was the number they gave me. So i got stuck with it. Same thing when i went to L.A. They gave me #24, and i´ve been wearing #24 for the last 4 years but it was taken here by Webs. So i got back to #46.



 

How about the bigger rinksize, what are your expectations about the upcoming season ?


I didnt know what to expect to play on a bigger ice but i like the bigger rink size. You have more time and more space to hold on the puck a little bit longer which is always a good thing. We want to win, i think we got a good team. They told me the team got bigger and stronger that fits into my style of play. You just play every game to win.

 


Lots of players have a special „pregame routine“ - Do you have any ?


No, nothing special. I just try to do the same thing every day.

 


In 2005 you won the „ Humanitarian of the Year“ Award  – how came ?


I was still a junior,. We did things like hospital visits, going to elementary schools, reading books,  and we went to High Schools together with the police to send out a message not to take drugs, had practices with little kids. The team puts the name into the league and they pick one. It was a special honour for me win this award.

 


What would you have done for a living if you hadn´t bekome a pro hockey player ?


Tough question. Lots of things you want to do, but when you get older you can´t change things.I always wanted to be a teacher – i  like kids. I guess gym teacher or physical education teacher would have been my number 1 because i like sports and i like kids.

 


How is your German ?


I´ve my „please“ and „thank you“  but working on it. Well. if they resign me i will take some german lessons. Deal !

 


Last question : If it was up to you to choose music in the locker room , what would you pick ?


That´s tough , too. I dont listen to music that often. I like country music . But i don´t know what to choose.

 


Thank you so much for this Interview Colin ! Wishing you and the Ice Tigers all the best for the new season !

 

 

 


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