Coventry Blaze

Blaze forward Vallerand named EIHL player of the week

by
Lucy Gordon
18th September 2017

Coventry Blaze forward Marc-Olivier Vallerand has been named EIHL Player of the Week for the period ending September 17th 2017.

Vallerand scored two goals, including the game winner, in a 5-0 victory at Manchester on Saturday night, helping the Blaze secure their first Elite League win of the season, and 200th away win overall in all EIHL competitions.

The 28-year-old Canadian then followed up that performance with another big effort on Sunday at home to Braehead, again bagging the game winning goal before later adding an assist in a 4-1 win over the visiting Clan.

“For us I think it was a good weekend. Things feel better when you win the (Player of the Week Award) and you get two wins on a weekend. It’s a good feeling.” Vallerand said.

“We talked about it in the dressing room, we needed those two wins to get back to .500 for the year. You don’t want to start the season 0-2; so we had a really good week of practise, Danny (Stewart – Blaze Head Coach) made sure we put in the work and I think it led on to the weekend.”

Vallerand, who joined the Blaze from EBEL side HC Bolzano during the summer, says he believes the team is now starting to gel following a busy preseason and tough start to the new Elite League campaign:

“We’re coming together as a group. The lines are building chemistry and that makes the whole team work better together…that’s what led to good things this weekend.”

Photo: Scott Wiggins