This past Monday we announced the first signing of the upcoming 2020/2021 season was our Head Coach, Mark Saunders. Over the course of the off-season we will not only be hearing the thoughts of the signings as they are announced, we will also be sitting down and getting to know them a little better before the puck drops for the new season.
Name: Mark Saunders
Age: 34
Position: Head Coach
What got you into hockey: Hitting a tennis ball round the garden with a broken fence panel at 13 years old. Parents got me roller skates and a Franklin roller hockey stick and the rest is history!
What age did you start playing: 15
NHL team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Hockey hero: Can’t name just one, there’s been a few!
Favourite UK rink: Belfast Arena or Nottingham Arena
Hidden talent/hockey party trick: I’m told I’m a pretty good dancer which throw’s some people off!
Superstitions: Now coaching, it’s a black coffee whilst warm up goes on, I always carry two markers in my pockets all the time!
Favourite actor: Will Ferrell/Adam Sandler, two seriously funny guys
Favourite band: I’m and RnB/Hip Hop guy so I can’t name a band, but I’ll pretty much listen to anything in those genre’s
Most memorable hockey moment to date: Winning is always special – National junior championships in 2014-15 with Guildford at U16, Gold medal in Tuurku with England U13 last season, winning the league with Slough a few years ago with a great team; those are three big memories that stick out.
Your most embarrassing moment: Falling over on clear ice walking round to the bench in Bracknell last season, slipped and wiped out completely! I was soaked the whole game!!! It was pretty bad
Favourite dressing room prank: Those can never be told!!!
What do you do away from the rink: Golf, anything and everything with my two boys – they keep us busy!
Three things you would take with you on a desert island: My other half, my boys, my french bulldog!
Best thing about hockey: Everything the game can give – the ups and downs, the winning, the losing (even though I hate losing!) it’s a roller coaster and nothing else gives what this game can!