SPEAKER_00 0:04

Hi everybody, and welcome to Milton Keynes Lightning TV. Hope you're having a great summer and enjoying the off season, of course. But I know all of you will be keeping one eye on what's going on with all things Milton Keane's Lightning, of course, including all the roster changes. And I'm really, really glad today we've got the head coach of Milton Keene's Lightning and the director of hockey, of course, uh Pete Russell. Pete, welcome. And uh first of all, take thanks for taking the time. I know you're having a bit of a chill out after a busy schedule uh on the run-up to summer.

SPEAKER_01 0:33

Yeah, um, that's okay. It's a nice drive, so uh give me something to do today.

SPEAKER_00 0:38

I know some of the fans will know you, of course, because um, you know, uh a lot of the fans were with you right the way through, three seasons uh in the EPL as was, of course, and then the elite season, of course. Uh, you know, and I don't think anybody can forget that final game, coach loads of Milton Keynes fans going down to Cardiff with the uh the Pete Russell Mars and everything. But here you are back again. So it it doesn't seem like it's been that long, but if you look at it on the calendar, it's been a fair old while. So obviously, you've been doing a fair bit few bits in between. You've been in the game, you've been connected with uh Great Britain, of course, all the way through, but a big stint in Germany as well.

SPEAKER_01 1:15

Yeah, um, four seasons there, I think. Um when I left here, I went to Glasgow, had a brilliant season there, then I went to Germany for four years. Came back to Cardiff, it was great, it was tough at the end, but it was great. Um went back to Germany this year, didn't work out, you know, it just was the wrong move, I think. Coach and club, we just weren't suited at that moment. Um, and then come back, and you know, and there was a few things on the table from Europe, and then I started talking to Tom, um, and I just thought, you know, I enjoyed it here the last time. Um it gives you a bit more balance in life, you know, and I think that was important for me at this point.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

It must have been I was gonna it must have taken quite a toll on you, obviously, with the you know, family as well, young family, um, you know, being away in Germany because you were there during COVID as well, weren't you? So it was difficult to difficult to travel and everything else. So obviously, jump to the chance to come back to Milton Keynes.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

Yeah, I liked it here. We had a good time here. We lived in Stony Stratford the last time, it was awesome. You know, we came in the back of Pulley and Vito great people, you know, so you're walking into something really good at that point. It took a little bit of time to the kind of uh started to take to me a little bit the last time, hopefully it's quicker this time. Um, but yeah, we'd a great time. Like the from winning things, from people's banners going up for 10 years, you know, like Kaz EG, like you go through them, like uh it was a great time, you know, and there was a great core of players here. Um, it was kind of easy to come in and do that then. But now we're back, and it's a bit of a rebuild this time.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

I'll come on to rebuild in just a second, but one of the first names on that uh team sheet, if you like, and a banner up in the roof, um, is your assistant coach Louis Christie. Was that fairly important from your point of view to have that kind of balance in the coaching in your coaching staff?

SPEAKER_01 3:02

Yeah, I trust Louis, you know, he played for me for a long for a while and we got on well. Um, we talked the same so he can understand me. Uh but Louis MKL all the way through, do you know what I mean? There's a bunch of them, as you know, that still come to the game. So when I came and seen J Mo and that and Farney, it was cool, do you know what I mean? To see them all. But uh I think Louis is a really good guy. He took a big, he took something on last year that was really tough and never been a coach before in a crazy situation, you know, because Tim done a great job here and it never worked out in the end for him. And then Louis jumped in and uh I I guess he learned a lot about himself in that situation, but it didn't uh make him want to run away. He wanted to be involved in it, and I was more than happy to be involved. That was one of the first things when it came around, and we really started talking, probably I can't remember when it was maybe March or something like that. I can't remember. Um, I said I'd like Louis to stay. You know, that's that's an important thing for me. I said that to Tom.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

Yeah, it's certainly gonna bring that culture right through right away through a dressing room, isn't it? And I know you've started signing some new guys as well, and we've got some headline signings as well to um uh Archie Hazeldyne and people like that, that um Kel Beatty as well that have coming into the squad, but there's a few players that you're already familiar with, of course, you that were playing here when you were last here, you know. But people like uh you've got Griff, you've got Jordan County, uh Jordan Headley, and and and so on. And there's gonna be some familiarity and some seniority in that locker room as well.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

Yeah, but you need that. Um, I think there's a good core of um experienced players, and some of them are really talented. Do you know what I mean? You've touched on them. Um, good players, different, you know. Cowns is dynamic, he can change a game in one shift. Do you know what I mean? When he's on, he's dynamite, he's always been like that. Heads is a really good goal, he's solid as a rock. Getting older now, he's 31 now, though. I can't believe that. Um that's scary when you think about that. Yeah, really scary because when I was here, I think Head was like 22 or something like that, and uh 23, I can't remember, but uh then Griff is just Griff just has to play the game that he can play. He's just a tough, solid defence man. That's all I want from him. Do you know what I mean? He doesn't need to rack up points, he needs to make a lot of hits and be aggressive, and he likes that. You know, he enjoys that side of the game.

SPEAKER_00 5:08

Ed Nags as well.

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Yeah, Nagy was young when I was here. I Nagy got a big chance when I was here. Um he played a lot when I was here, he's just a kid. I'm trying to think how old he was. He must have been 18, 19 at the time, really smooth. Do you know what I mean? I've not seen a lot of him because he was injured this year. Um, but I like Nagy, good character, same as them all. Do you know he's a really good player and he's he adds experience to it because I think it's important because you know we've added quite a lot of younger players to this team.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

I was gonna say the dynamic around you know, the team looks like it's gonna be younger. I mean, obviously you've you know you've got your the signings that are still to be announced, but it looks like the whole setup looks like it's gonna be younger, it's gonna be slightly more dynamic. Uh, you know, if if I can liken it to if I was gonna say a Pete Russell style of style of play, it's gonna be very much like high 4-Tack, high tempo hockey.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

Yeah, I just think the team, when I watched a lot of games and when I committed to doing this, I just felt they lacked a little bit of jam in their game. And they, you know, there was a lot of talent in that team for sure. But I just think as a whole, they just needed some horses and soldiers to pull the rest along a little bit because they all want to do it then. So we want I wanted to add that. You know, that was important for me. Um, I think we've added it, they're young, but I think we've definitely added they're not too young, they're actually, I can't say too much because some haven't been announced, they're a fantastic age, you know. Like um they're basically on the bubble of going higher, you know, and I think that's a really good thing. You're adding real hunger into that. And I know the experienced players were touched on, they touched on that. They want that, you know, they want to be the experienced players of the young guys in the room. You know, they did it's just fun. You know, there's a dynamic to it then.

SPEAKER_00 6:44

Coming on to the the age of the you know, the two the two imports that have been announced so far, um Brady Johnson and Jared White, the latest to be uh announced. I mean, Brady's 26-year-old Canadian, uh Jared a 27-year-old Canadian, not played in this country before, but have put up impressive numbers and stats. I mean, you know, over in over in Europe and uh and over in Canada before that. What did you see in their game that kind of attracted you to them?

SPEAKER_01 7:08

Well, Brady came through a player who played with me in Germany last year, Justin McPherson. So I watched Brady and straight away I liked him. He's a good skater, good on the puck, plays a 200 feet game, goes to the hard areas, he puts points up, and he just looked a good character in the ice, you know. So that was easy and it was kind of lucky. It just came through a friend of his. Um White's uh 200 feet player. Um, his game is just energy, real energy, you know, and I think people like that add a lot to the team. Do you know? I mean, he's gonna bring a lot of speed. He kind of reminded me of Tommy Melly a little bit, not as a day that gets banned about it. Maybe not fighting wise, he's not like that, but he kind of reminds me of Tommy a little bit, you know, the way he just kind of gets around the ice and he's always working hard. And I know the fans like that in the Milton Keynes.

SPEAKER_00 7:55

It's it's amazing how you you mentioned Tommy Mellet. Every time there's an announcement that comes up in his mystery, there's always somebody who comes up as a sign Tommy Melly to the first time.

SPEAKER_01 8:03

Tommy was a beauty though, he was funny, Tommy Melly. He was good around the people, do you know what I mean? And they like he liked to be here and he was in the bar, but he was always talking to people, but he was a real good guy and he always played every game, like it's his last game.

SPEAKER_00 8:14

Yeah, heart on his sleeve hockey, wasn't it? But with Tommy. Um, talking about uh popular guy, uh, you've managed to uh tempt Liam Stewart back uh into the fold. How did how did that come about?

SPEAKER_01 8:25

Um, like there was always talk, he wanted to come back, and then um it was actually Tom. You know, Tom said Liam's contacted me, sent me a short message. Do you want him? And I said, Of course. Do you know? Like, um, yeah, of course I want him. You know, I know Liam for the national team. Um, I like Liam, he's a leader. You know, uh he's another guy that comes to play every night.

SPEAKER_00 8:46

It's a shame, isn't it? Because it his his international um stint was probably cut short by injury and concussion and stuff.

SPEAKER_01 8:52

Yeah, there was a little few things there, and then at the time when he dropped down, the pool was bigger at the time. Liam's a really good hockey player and a great guy. Do you know what I mean? He's and he's humble, you know, but he's just he's a good teammate. And I think when you can get Liam Stewart in your locker room, you should take him. Do you know what I mean? And he's gonna come here wanting to finish the right way. He's not gonna come here just to mess around, he's not got that into it, he's not got that in him. And I'm quite excited actually because I think it's a really good pickup because we lost Mac, you know, and it was really when we lost Mac, it was kind of like, oh no, we've lost somebody here, what we're gonna do, do you know? And it was and then when Liam came up, it was pretty fortunate. Happened about two or a week or two after it, it was really fortunate.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

Is Liam gonna be class as Liam's not gonna be classed as an import now, he's a big setup. He is classed as a Brit because there has been confusion around you know, uh Bristol's imports or Brits or whatever they were last season, so hopefully that's clarified now. Yeah, yeah, no, he's a he's a British player. Talking about imports, you've got two already. You mentioned earlier that you know, uh obviously you needed to make these changes to the to the team to to play your shape of hockey. What are you looking for in an import?

SPEAKER_01 9:57

Um, imports has to be a guy who can put the puck in the net, which is a pure scorer. Um, I'd like them to be a bit heavier and make a lot of contacts and just get and save people. Um the other two, you know, I don't want to say too much, it gives it away, but uh yeah, I know what I want.

SPEAKER_00 10:16

Cool. And with regard to preparation for the season, we're coming to the beginning of July now, uh coming for the end of June, beginning of July now. So the guys will start getting ready for the new season. I know in the past you've had uh training plans for them and so on and so forth. Is that pretty much similar to what you've got going on now with them?

SPEAKER_01 10:33

Yeah, they get sent like a uh plan that lasts three months, and basically it's on them whether they do it or not. They don't have to do it, they can do their own thing. But it's just if you tick a box and you give them the the guidance, some will use some of it, some won't. But I think it just puts them in a mindset and expectation of what we're looking for. We want to be a team that comes up in good shape, and I I think they will be because I think the older guys are pretty much looking after their bodies, and I think the other guys that we signed are wanting to become real hockey players, so they have to, you know, they have to grow in the summer, they have to try and put some weight on and get stronger and faster. So I'm not worried about that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:09

Are you kind of are you looking at what's going on? Obviously, you see you're you're concentrating on what's going on in Milky's Lightning. I know that that's historically that's what you've done. You've just very, very focused on what's going on around you. Have you got a little bit of a side eye on what's happening with the other teams, or is he just completely focused on like I don't really take a lot notice of it.

SPEAKER_01 11:27

Um I think we just got to focus on what we are, you know, and the owners want to be better than sixth place, you know, and I think it's a kind of one-off. Do you know what I mean? It was a tough season with a lot of different things that happened. You've got to be honest with that, a lot of injuries. Um, but I think we want to be a team that's competing. It's about the team we have. You know, every year when I watched when I was away, I still kept an eye on Milton Keynes and I always heard people saying, Oh, that team should be winning with the players they have. But that's just you can sign the players, do you know? It's just what comes together with it, and we have to try and make sure that the puzzle comes together a little bit for us, do you know what I mean? And we get a solid start, but we keep getting better and better as it goes on.

SPEAKER_00 12:07

Um, going get back to your the general role, I guess, for head coach and director of hockey as well. Where where are you gonna sit within the Milton King's organization? Because I know last time you were here, for example, you did a you did a lot of work in the community, you got a lot of, you know, you got involved with the juniors an awful lot as well. Is the plan to start doing that as well? Is it gonna be a link up with maybe Thunder or was that third?

SPEAKER_01 12:27

No, I don't really know, but uh I think they just needed somebody, you know, Vicky does a great job as a general manager, but she needs an in-betweener, do you know what I mean? That kind of can buff the players and take the information back to her. And I think the the board need that, or the ownership, whatever you want to call it, they need that because they don't need to be dealing with the players all the time. So I've just you know it's kind of like it was before, like I'll deal with stuff and take it to Vicky or send them to Vicky or Tom, do you know what I mean? So they're not going and banging their door and wasting their time, do you know what I mean? Like, and I think it's good for the players that way as well. Do you know what I mean? We see what happens with the juniors, there's a couple of things going on there, and of course, we'll go and do some school visits and stuff like that at any events. I don't, I don't have a problem helping in that area enjoy it.

SPEAKER_00 13:07

And I know going back to the community thing, one thing you you were really conscious of before, and I don't want to keep going back to when you were here before, but you know, one thing that the the community really enjoyed was the interaction, the engagement that you had with with the fans. I don't think I think it it absolutely showed when it was announced that you were leaving last time of how much of an impact you'd had on the fans. I know you mentioned at the very start they didn't exactly warm shoot at the very start. Um, that's probably because they could remember you celebrating in Coventry when Slau won the playoffs. But it it it didn't take too long, did it? It when you came in.

SPEAKER_01 13:41

You know, you want to do a good job for everybody, you want to do a good job for the owners, and you want to do a good job for the players and the staff, you want to do a good job for the fans, and you just you know, you know, you hope it comes together. Do you know what I mean? And I think there's been a lot of lessons learned the last two years. Um, and I think sometimes in life you take a step back to move forward again, and sometimes you've got to slow down a little bit. You can't keep just going full throttle, it's not good for you. Um, and I'm I'm looking forward to coming back and reinventing myself a little bit to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_00 14:09

Brilliant. Well, Pete, it's been brilliant sitting down and chatting to you. Thanks very much for giving us the time to catch up. And don't forget, of course, you can catch up on all things Mill and Keene's Lightning on all the social media. Don't forget the the new uh season shirt designs are out as well. You can get those ordered if you go onto the Lightning website as well to guarantee your delivery before that first game of the season. We'll be doing loads of stuff as we go throughout the summer, catching up with some of the new guys, catching up with some more updates, and there might be some few surprises as we go along the way as well. But until then, take care of