This year Miskolc and Debreceni HK have joined forces to form joint teams at the U18 and U20 levels to compete in the Austrian league, coaching these two squads is Jason Morgan.
It is not often that someone with NHL experience spread over five seasons will be passing on his knowledge ice hockey to the next generation in Hungary. This is what is happening in the north east corner of Hungary, Jason Morgan played for the Kings, Flames, Predators, Blackhawks and Wild, and was also teammates with Levente Szuper in the AHL with the St.John’s Flames. Jason took a break from his busy scheduale to talk to icehockey.hu about his experince in Hungary so far and what he expects in the upcoming season.
How did you end up in Hungary and more specifically in Miskolc?
I was looking for a full time coaching job, I had been a player/coach in my last three years as a player in the ECHL and the CHL. I had played in Europe for three years, Sweden, Austria and Norway, I loved it my family loved it, the culture and the life style. After looking for about eight months for a family contract, I was interviewing with pro teams but I couldn't find one because of a big family, so I had to reevaluate what I was looking for and I thought I would bring my family over out of my own pocket and just gain experience and move up as I go.
How has the season been going so far?
It's been a learning curve from the beginning, learning the talent level and evaluating where everyone is structurally and systematically, there are somethings that I need to spend more time on and other things that I don’t really have to. I have had great commitment from the guys so far, they are working extremely hard, if I can add the structure, system and mentality from North America I think it will help them alot.
What is it like to work with players that are coming from two different organizations, with some players also playing for the MOL League teams as well?
It has been an adjustment, you have to go on the fly and work with what you have. Its an adjustment that we as the coaching staff have to make. I signed up for this job and it's something that I have to deal with.
How have you been able to figure out the practices and logistics with the two groups of players?
We are talking to both clubs where we can have a couple practices a week with the full roster, for a couple hours where we can have video season along with ice sessions where we can implement a system, the rest is communication within the coaching staff. My Debrecen assistant is taking what we talk about and implementing it with his players, but there are five guys who are playing on the MOL team in Debrecen and they have a Russian coach. Before each game we go over our systems and make sure we are all on the same page.
Which age groups are you working with?
I work with the both the U18 and U20 teams, and it will be a lot of travel for me, but the U20 takes priority if the schedules interfere.
How has the move with the family been?
The family has come on the 16th, just found a house in the Miskolc area, I have a wife and three kids, in an area that reminds me of where I’m from in Canada, and I think everyone will like it.