Devils get their pre-game kicks with soccer ball

Ask Patrik Elias about the reasons for his scoring surge in the last 15 games (11 goals, 16 assists) and he begins with the obvious answers: the switch to playing with Dainius Zubrus and Brian Gionta and getting the added responsiblity of playing against opponent's top lines.

His reason's after that are a little more interesting, though.

One was his wife's cooking and the Christmas cookies she's been baking already.

The other was the soccer.

"The warm-up before the game, playing soccer, that helps the guys," Elias said. "There's no question about it."

Players on several teams, including Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, warm up by kicking around a soccer ball before pre-game warm-ups, but this is the first season some Devils have done it.

"I never had the teammates to do it with," Elias said.

The Devils' group started with just Elias and rookies Anssi Salmela and Petr Vrana. When Vrana and Salmela were sent down, however, Elias had to find new playmates.

Now, he has a group of eight that includes himself, Bobby Holik, Paul Martin, David Clakson, Mike Mottau, Jay Pandolfo, Johnny Oduya and Travis Zajac.

"We almost have enough guys to form another team," Holik joked.

Elias said his teammates have demonstrated some soccer talent.

"They're not bad," Elias said. "They're Americans or Canadians, but..."

Elias said Mike Mottau, who said he played some soccer as a kid, is the best soccer player of the North Americans.

"We all know Paul Martin is a (multi) sport star, but he's defnitely not a soccer star, let's put it that way," Holik said.

Martin said he played soccer during the summer as a kid. He also starred in football, basketball and baseball in high school in Minnesota. He said he has one soccer skill over Holik that doesn't come into play in their pre-game fun.

"Bobby can play, but he can't run," Martin said.

Mottau said Elias is the best soccer player on the team "by far."

Of Holik, he said, "He's more of a bruiser. Even in soccer."

Comments

[Evans]

interesting and funny read Thanks TG!

[Major Tom]

sign them up for the Ironmen!!

[Devilswede]

Great to see the guys enjoying a real sport besides hockey...and not the pointless games like baseball and football. ;)

[Sean Glickman]

Great post

[Per]

I think there is something to this. The pressure is taken off, they can warm up with something that brings fun to it. Great stuff.

[Speedz]

Yeah it also looks like a team building excersize.

[JOE D]

Where are they playing soccer pre game? In the lockeroom? TG have you witnessed any of this and can you corroborate on the players assessments of each other?

[FOTC]

Wow...Marty is going to experience one hell of a culture shock when he gets back.

[Salvatore from Garfield]

Joe D- I was thinking the same thing.

TG- Awesome post. It's great hearing about what the hockey players are doing when they aren't playing hockey.

[Christian T.]

I like how the two teams you mentioned that did it also are Tampa and the Pens... two are on the opposite ends of the quality spectrum.

[Pat D'Amico]

This is great to hear, just one more thing that brings the team closer together.

[dannyd]

very cool post TG...keep em` coming

[Afro Thunder]

See, this is why you're so awesome TG. If it wasn't for you then we never would have known this.

[Kellyn]

Even though he may have been joking, FOTC brings up an interesting point. When Marty Brodeur's elbow has healed and he's ready to start playing again he won't necessarily be coming back to the same team he left in November. I know all the players, to a man, insist that the absence of Brodeur hasn't changed the way they play or how they approach the game, and while that is certainly up for debate, what isn't is the fact that losing Marty has forced them to really close ranks around Scott Clemmensen and play with a cohesiveness and consistency in order to be successful that in the past they may have lacked. They seem to really have grown as a team because of all the injuries they had to deal with and it sort of makes me wonder how Brodeur will fit in coming back after missing a huge chunk of the season. It's also kind of depressing when the cameras on MSG pan up into Lou Lamoriello's box during the Devils' home games and show Marty sitting there, looking sort of forlorn. I know he's probably happy that the team has been doing so well lately, but he has to wish it were him instead of Clemmer, and he maybe he even wonders if he still means as much to the team now that they know they are capable of winning without him.

[Speedz]

I don't think anybody undermines Marty's importance to the team, as a solid goaltender, and of the team leaders. When Brodeur gets back every ones gonna be real happy and supportive of him in the lockerroom. Might even play harder for the guy so he can break those win records this season.

[Ray]

first of all, nobody better sprain an ankle playing soccer before the game.

second, kellyn brings up a point. yes they have been rallying around scott because they knew they had to play better because it wasnt marty. but if you think for one second that marty isnt part of the team then you are out of your mind. i think that when he does come back, right around the playoffs the team (and fans) will be super pumped up and ready for a cup run. but marty is irreplaceable. and no one should think otherwise.

[anthony]

I read the hockey buzz and one of the rumors is that brian gionta will be traded
soon, What is your feeling on this matter. I don't see this because everything is going so well now.

[Nick]

Awesome post, this made me smile. It's cool that they are doing things like this and they can all joke around about it.

[JerseyLove]

It's nice to know the team is gelling on and off the ice.
I love the little jabs between Holik and Martin, hahaha.

[Peter]

With all these soccer enthusiasts on the team, they should be in favor of tie games and 3 points for a win!

[Mike]

Playing soccer seems like a way to make our players a bunch of wimps... jk, but it def seems like a good way to have some torn mcls.

[Mike]

About marty returning:

Clemmer has been a miracle for this team, b/c weekes has looked weak. Lets be honest though. Clemmer could stay hot for a long time, but I don't think that anyone really things he is going to escape the next 2 months without hitting some rough patches. Either way, Clemmer has earned his way onto the post-season roster. That's for sure.

[josh]

I always fet that Marty made the team a bit ... clicky (not sure if thats how you spells that meaning of the word). He aways had the movie group during the playoffs and a few times made some comments like, and i can't quote here because i dont remember what it was exactly but, "well are you friends with everyone you work with?" when asked if he was friends with all his teamates. All that said I don't think in any way brodeur's return will be a setback for the team. It would be rediculous if anyone did. I think once Brodeur gets back to form he will be better than ever with a team that is, arguably, better than ever playing in front of him. Sounds like a winnning combination to me!

[TG]

I haven't seen any of the current group other than Patrik play soccer and have only seen it on the road in hallways near the visiting locker room. I have no idea where they play at The Rock.

[Josh]

I'm surprised that Gio's not getting in on the soccer games. I know that he played soccer in high school in Rochester.

Also, don't believe anything you read on Hockeybuzz. Eklund is a buffoon.