As a Canadian it's something you grow up with. Where I'm from in Canada the ground usually freezes in late October and the lake is frozen until late March. We learn to skate at a young age and I learned to skate when I was three. I was on an outdoor rink when I was three-years-old.
Gerad AdamsIt's the one thing that the Devils have always prided themselves on. That comes from recruiting. We try and pick out the players who not only have the on-ice skills, but the off-ice skills too. I think in any job, if you have good people and you work together, you work better.
Gerad AdamsA good ice hockey player is someone who has good communication skills, is willing to listen and willing to try new things. It's a very technical game and not that easy to pick up. It's a lot of fun but you just have to be patient.
Gerad AdamsAt times it seems as if you're a glorified babysitter with these guys, but they're all really good people. You just want to keep everybody happy. One of the biggest things is to keep the lines of communication open and just to keep everything running as smoothly as possible.
Gerad Adams