Interview: Aulin on Manchester, fans, the EIHL and more!

Photo: Mark Ferris

Manchester Storm pulled of something of a coup when they announced the signing of Jared Aulin last summer.

The forward came to Manchester with an impressive CV including over 100 SHL games, 133 in the Allsvenskan, more than 150 in the Swiss League and another 19 in that country’s top flight. He’s scored some crucial goals for the Storm this season, and going into the final run of games we talked to one of the most experienced players in the Elite League as he tries to make sure his team make the post-season.

“It’s desperation time of the season, everyone wants to be sure they’re in the playoffs,” began the Storm forward. "I always say that the hockey season is broken down into three parts: you’ve for Before Christmas when everyone is learning systems; next you’re doing what you have to do with those in mind to make the post-season, and then the third part is playing in the playoffs. Everyone is in the grind now of part two, and in this league there are no bad teams. They’re all good teams and what is going to separate playoffs teams from the other two is those who show up to be great in this final stretch."

Storm had over 2,000 fans at the Shelter last weekend, and Aulin loves playing there. "I think it’s the most fun rink to play in when it’s that loud. I say that because a lot of teams have very loud and passionate support, but when the fans are that close to the action and the ice you can really hear everyone,” he said. "A big building doesn’t quite echo off the roof as it does in the Storm Shelter and it was a lot of fun last weekend - I think both teams enjoyed the atmosphere. As players we didn’t want the game to be that close, but the fans loved it."

Aulin came to the Elite League having spent the back end of last season Germany, after four seasons in Switzerland and the five before that in Sweden. What were his expectations of the EIHL? "I didn’t expect the race to be this close across the league. I didn’t really know a whole lot about the league or expect it to be good as this which is a great thing, as it’s getting better and gaining a lot more respect, he explained. "There is a lot of really good fan support throughout the league, everyone has passionate fans, and the nice thing is that the fans all seem to get along with each other - they enjoy the road trips, and the home teams take good care of the visiting supporters. It’s big for the game of hockey that everyone is so welcoming and appreciates each other’s fan groups."

The 37-year-old continued: "There was very passionate support in Switzerland; some teams have such big rivalries and really don’t like each other that the cops have to be there to make sure nothing crazy happens. But I never experienced anything there where I heard of people getting hurt, and that’s important. Passion is great, but violence should never stray into supporting your team."

Few players come to the Elite League when they’ve played the previous season in the National League and DEL. How did it happen here? "The big thing is that I’m getting older and I wanted to get an education. I wanted to see what else was out there and last year I came back from an injury too soon but I knew I still had a lot to give the game still. There was the opportunity to play with Layne and having the support of Ryan Finnerty and Jamie Tunstall pushing to have me was something that I found very exciting,” said Aulin, who is studying for his MBA while playing in Manchester. "The University programmes are a big thing because in North America it’s backwards: if you play in the WHL, OHL, QMJHL etc. you get ‘red-shirted’ from going to college hockey, but going the other way from colleague to junior isn’t a problem. As a young prospect you’re thinking ‘I need to get to the NHL as quick as possible’, but I had a serious injury and over those three years I thought I needed an education. My parents wanted me to go the college route, and you realise that no-one is invincible; I think it’s super-important for people in any walk of life to have an education. It’s been a lot of fun though, I’m enjoying it and I’m also very appreciative that the University of Salford and the Storm have this programme to make things like this happen."

Is it not a bit strange going back to school? "It is weird, especially at my age, walking into a classroom - most of the people there are coming out form their undergraduate degrees and are going to the masters, I’m not a 37-year-old student who hasn’t been in school since he was 24!” Joked Aulin. "It was a big adjustment because you have to make sure you prepare properly to be at your best on the ice and to have a strong focus at university. That means things like going to bed on time and having your food ready, but I’m lucky that my fiancé takes good care of me!"

Aulin recently told Storm TV that he feels like he could be a father to some of the younger players on the Storm roster. How does he find himself helping those players on the team? "The big thing for me is that I show them it’s ok to relax. When you’re younger you put a lot of pressure on yourself to prove something, but at the end of the day we’re all still learning, including me at my age,” explained Aulin. "No-one expects you to know everything at any point and you don’t want the young guys to feel like they have to win anyone over, they just have to enjoy it and have fun. I think the biggest lesson for anyone, in anything, is that when you wake up with a smile on your face and trust what you’re doing, the better you’ll do."

Manchester go into the final stretch controlling their own Destiny. The Storm are three points clear in the playoffs, although they have played a game more than the sides chasing them ahead of a crunch weekend facing playoff rivals Glasgow twice and Dundee on the road. "We’ve experienced a lot this season with Mario leaving and coming back, and being branded a team that ‘works hard but isn’t skilled enough’. It’s one of those things that I don’t like when people say that about us, and I think we have a group that takes offence to that” he revealed. "We are hard-working and do have skilled players, and I think we’ve realised that the only way we’ll be successful is as a group. No-one is chasing points, we win and lose together; when you have a group of guys who can step out into an arena and take accountability as a group then it breeds success. I think lately we’ve been doing a lot better, if we continue to play our way and trust each other then we can make some big waves in the playoffs- we’ve just for to get there first.”

Finally, Aulin has been a very big supporter online of teammate Zach Sullivan after the defensemen took to social media to reveal details about his sexuality. "What Zach did was huge and I don’t think people realise how big it is because more and more people have come out with their true identity and who they are. I think it’s amazing that people are able to do that, but a lot of people aren’t in that position in a sport which is considered masculine, and where coming out means you won’t be seen like that - which is false. I’ve probably played with someone that was bisexual or gay during my career and they’ve not said anything based on fear, for Zach to do what he did has paved the way for everyone around the world and allows young people to live as who they are,” he said. "I’m a big believer that people should only focus on what they control, and no-one is hurting anyone. He said it was mentally defeating him to keep this inside and I don’t think it’s fair that anyone should hurt themselves like that because they can’t be themselves. It was great to see players from other teams come to Zach and tell him really good things without knowing him - Matt Marquardt did the day Zach came out and we played Dundee, and last weekend Jordan Smotherman went out of his way to say something, among others across the league.”

"I think it’s great that in a world that likes to try and find negatives we have people who are able to appreciate big moments that allow people to be themselves” concluded Aulin. Wise words indeed!