LAOLA1: Can you elaborate on which areas require an even stronger focus?
Lacroix: I discussed this with Darryl (Williams, Assistant Coach) and "Fipo" (Sports Director Philipp Pinter): The game isn't that complicated at all. There are three zones. You either have the puck or you don't. That makes six game situations, if you disregard power plays and penalty kills. Six areas that we need to focus on and cover. We need to handle the puck well so we don't lose it. An important part of a good defensive team is not giving away the puck. People don't always see it that way. They ask themselves: How can we stop the opponent's plays? But before you can stop them, you should ask: How can we keep the puck? We are working on how we can quickly win it back and transition to offense if we do lose it.
LAOLA1: This was your first complete pre-season preparation with the Graz99ers. What was important to you?
Lacroix: For every team, it's important to have a real identity. You can wish for an identity or hope for one, but you have to work for it. Wishing and hoping alone accomplish nothing. Words on a piece of paper or in a meeting mean nothing once the first puck drops. For me, it's about daily habits. That starts with our players' physical fitness, which they have demonstrated so far. They can truly be proud of that. I am very satisfied with most of the guys; they have worked hard and invested in themselves. That will benefit us as a team. And the daily standards must not only be good but excellent if we want to be among the league's top teams again.
Ich bin sehr kritisch gegenüber meiner eigenen Arbeit als Trainer.
LAOLA1: Do you have specific keywords for this identity?
Lacroix: Yes, I do. We all use the same language. I keep them to myself, but we talk every day about developing habits and paying attention to the details that make us better as a team. We are on the right track. I felt we were a bit behind on the number of training sessions, especially because we didn't have enough players to train properly two weeks ago (some players were sick). Our new assistant coach, Darryl, has only recently joined us. He is a truly welcome addition to our coaching staff. We initially worked with a small team, so it's really good to have him around to exchange ideas and benefit from his enormous experience, which he gained as a coach alongside some of the best coaches in the world. That creates a pleasant atmosphere.
LAOLA1: You mentioned the enormous experience Darryl brings to the team. He worked in the NHL for 14 years, and you yourself worked there for twelve years. Together, you bring 26 years of NHL coaching experience. What is your first impression of him, and what can he offer the team?
Lacroix: You see those 26 years in the NHL, but it's more than that. I learned a lot in my first years as head and assistant coach in the Quebec Major Junior League by working with good people. I learned just as much there as I did in some years in the NHL. So for me, the experience goes far beyond those years in the NHL. We both played and coached in the same leagues; I can really lean on him. He has experience working with many different coaches. Some of them are the same ones I worked with, for example, Alain Vigneault. He brings something from that experience every day when we sit in our meetings. And that's exactly what I'm looking for. I want to learn as a head coach. I want us to grow as a team. If I demand every day from our players to want more and get better, then I believe we as coaches must do the same. It's an ongoing process. And believe me: I am very critical of my own work as a coach.
Ich bin an einem Punkt, an dem ich meine Arbeit als Trainer mit Menschen teilen möchte, die ich mag.
LAOLA1: It wasn't a given that you would remain head coach of the Graz99ers this season. After winning the championship last season, there was great interest in you. Several rumors circulated, particularly that Eisbären Berlin wanted you as their new coach. Why then did you decide to stay in Graz?
Lacroix: My environment and the people I work with are really important to me. I'm no longer at a point in my life where I'm a young coach just trying to climb the ladder. I'm at a point where I want to share my coaching work with people I like. I feel that "Herb" (President Herbert Jerich) and "Fipo" (Sports Director Philipp Pinter) can offer me that. As a coach, the most important thing is to have support. Nothing great is achieved alone. I need a great staff, a dedicated owner, and a dedicated organization. We have our own challenges, like every team in the league. I am ready to deal with them. That only makes me a better coach. So for me, it was an easy decision to stay here. But first, I needed a break. I was tired at the end of the season. It had been a few intense months. And to coach, you need to be full of energy. So I took a few months off and came back with a lot of energy. I'm really happy to be back here.
LAOLA1: Your new contract is dated until next summer. However, it sounds like you wouldn't be averse to coaching the Graz99ers beyond this season.
Lacroix: I'm not looking beyond this season. Who knows how I'll feel at the end of the year? Who knows how the team will feel about me? It's an organic process. My entire focus is on getting these guys to realize their own potential as a team.
LAOLA1: As defending champions, there's always a lot more pressure on you, because you are now the team everyone desperately wants to beat. Do you feel this additional pressure yourself?
Lacroix: No. We already put pressure on ourselves every day to perform and make the team better. When I look at the league with all the personnel changes, some teams have really invested in their squads to be among the top contenders. We will see some very competitive teams from Salzburg, Vienna, KAC, and also from Milan. With all their Italian-Canadian and import players, they have an excellent team. It's okay for us not to be among the favorites at the start. It's okay for us to think: All these other teams have become strong. But I like where we stand. We have a younger team, much younger than last year, which is good. That means many more areas for us to grow as a team.
LAOLA1: Among others, captain Korbinian Holzer ended his career, Nick Bailen moved to Vienna. In addition, Lukas Haudum left the club, to the surprise of many, to go to Finland. Especially Bailen and Haudum were responsible for many goals and assists last season. How do you plan to compensate for that?
Lacroix: Whenever you're fortunate enough to have such special players who not only score points offensively but also battle hard without the puck, it immediately makes you a better coach. But the challenge for us is always to find someone who can step into those shoes. Right now, we are looking within the team. Opportunities are now presenting themselves for the guys to prove themselves. There are players who will take on different roles. We don't go to someone and say: You will replace him one-to-one. It's not like you just snap your fingers and magically everything fits the next day. It's a process. If you look at the development of Haudum's game with us, it didn't happen overnight. I remember what his game looked like in November and what it looked like in April. It was a completely different game, the same goes for Bailen. They are both outstanding players in their own way, but we are looking for players to step up, seize the opportunity, and make the most of it.
Es wird sicherlich Rückschläge geben, aber wir betrachten diese als Chancen, uns zu verbessern.
LAOLA1: In a conversation with Lukas Haudum, he highly praised you for how you developed his game in the few months since you took office. He's not the only one from whom such words come. That speaks volumes about your work as a coach. How proud does that make you?
Lacroix: We coaches are only as good as our record. We had a successful season, but that's the beauty of our sport. Every year we have a new chance, new challenges. I enjoy coaching all these guys. There is always a challenge because no one learns the same way. We have a lot of work ahead of us to get to know our team. Haudum was not an easy puzzle for any coach, but he is certainly a very satisfying one once you've put all the pieces together. Ultimately, all players want the same thing: they want to get better and contribute. That's all. You have to hold them accountable, but be fair. If they understand that we are doing things for the right reasons, then we will see progress every day. I'm looking forward to our new season and the challenges ahead.
LAOLA1: What are you looking forward to most?
Lacroix: I'm eager to see how we react to adversity. I want our team to always be prepared for all situations. I don't want us to be easily distracted or thrown off track. There will certainly be setbacks, but we view these as opportunities to improve.
LAOLA1: I don't want to ask you about the season's goal, as it will likely be winning the championship again. Instead, I'd rather ask you this: When you look back at the season in a few months, when would you say it was a good one?
Lacroix: We want to fulfill our team's full potential. Does that mean winning the championship? Of course, you wish for the championship title every season. But you have to work for it. We earned respect last season. I want us to continue in that spirit, giving our best every day and getting better as a team to earn the respect of our teammates and opponents. If we can achieve that, I believe we will be a team that contends for the championship. And that's exactly why we are here.
LAOLA1: Thank you for the interview!
