Christiansen leaves Giants for Steelers role
Stena Line Belfast Giants former coach Doug Christiansen has left the club for arch rivals Sheffield Steelers.
The 34-year-old American, who came to the UK back in 2007 as player-coach for the Edinburgh Capitals, earned instant respect rebuilding that organisation and ensuring play off qualification.
He collected the Elite League Coach of the Year Award in season 2009-10 and shortly after moved to Belfast where he coached the Giants from 2010 until last Sunday’s play off final in Nottingham.
Christiansen led the Giants to a title success last year piping the Steelers to the Championship and again collecting the Elite League’s prize of Coach of the Year for a second time.
Sheffield Steelers owner Tony Smith was delighted with the signing of Christiansen saying: “I am sure this is the appointment that will help see an upturn in the club’s results and title aspirations.
“Our fans deserve the best we can find and a man who has strong leadership qualities, technical ability and motivation powers to get the best out of our team every single night.
“I’m delighted that the move has come about so quickly, that was unexpected as I thought finding the right candidate for the job would take a little longer however after speaking with Doug I was sure we had the right man right in front of us.
“As a club we want success, we have a history of success. I believe that Doug shares our aims and aspirations and is motivated to take the Steelers back to the top in UK hockey”
Christiansen is presently working with the GB national side in Manchester ahead of the World Championships next week in Hungary.
Comments from David Simms confirm the appointment stating Sheffield were going to rebuild its place on top of the Elite League and they needed the right man to do that.
“If Christiansen fulfilled our ambitions I’m sure he will want to move back to North American to further fulfil in career in coaching to the highest possible level.”
Christansen’s decision came less than 24 hours after he was behind the bench in the Playoff Championship game, where the Giants lost in overtime to the Nottingham Panthers.
The Giants were only informed after 6pm on Monday night by the outgoing Christiansen and have been left shocked by the timing of this.
Still the Giants organisation said in a statement they “would like to thank Doug Christiansen for his 100% work ethic and commitment to the Giants during his 3 years behind the bench for the Belfast Giants.”
The search for the new head coach of the Belfast Giants will start today and will now be a whole new set up for Todd Kelman and the Odyssey Arena Trust to deal with ahead of the 2013/14 season.
