Here is the official quote from the ODT on the 1st April 2009.
“Ice hockey in New Zealand is played like rugby on ice,” he told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
“It should be played like chess.
“The game should be more strategic than physical. Every move should be planned and the players should be thinking two steps ahead when a call is made.”
The rugby philosophy is ingrained in New Zealand ice hockey teams and they tend to play a more crash, bash and hope style of game.
“The players have potential here,” van Poucke said.
“My job is to educate the Dunedin Thunder players into a new way to play the game.”
Will be interesting to see which style comes out on top in the NZIHL.
Current scores
Crash, Bash and Hope 4 – Chess Hockey 0