As a follow-up to the interview with Kalle Brännberg, here an interview with David Jansson, Team Canada head coach.

FQ: What is your background in floorball? Do you or did you play floorball?

DJ: Yeah, I´ve played almost ten years in the Swedish Superleague, for Jönköpings IK, Älvstranden and Pixbo Wallenstam. I wasn´t bad, but not good enough for the Swedish national team. I´ve always loved floorball, and I understood quite early that the tactical part of the game was one of my strengths. So I started to educate myself, both on the University and attending education from the Swedish floorball federation. And I just love the game, always have, always will.

FQ: How did it come about that you became head coach for Team Canada?

DJ: I´ve always been a very loyal floorball player while growing up. If I had the choice between going abroad or attending three voluntary practices, I would always have chosen to play floorball and stay at home. I really like everything that floorball in Sweden has given me, and now I feel like it´s time for me to see the world and give back to the sport at the same time.

FQ: What do you know about Canada as a floorballing nation? Do you have some knowledge about the Americans or Brazilians?

DJ: I like the approach that Canada has as a floorball nation. The will to work together with hockey, and the devotion I notice from guys like Greg Beaudin. That makes my floorball heart happy. My knowledge of the Americans and the Brazilians are not as good, though. Yet.

FQ: What do you know about the Canadian team and the players? Have you seen them in action already?

DJ: I saw a couple of the Team Canada games last World championships. I was impressed and liked the winning mentality of the players!

FQ: Are you planning to visit Canada, Finland or Switzerland to scout any of the players or what is the plan in terms of getting to know them?

DJ: We have already built a strong staff around me with Nate Leslie, Rob Armstrong and my wing man Greg Beaudin. These guys know a lot about our players, and I will do everything possible to see as much as I can via video and visiting tournaments.

FQ: What is your plan in order to get together the best team possible for the qualifiers in February?

DJ: I´ve always been a team guy, and a coach that knows how to make people enjoy themselves and play for the team. Aspects like leadership and positiveness will also be a factor when our staff selects the Canada team. Playing for your nation is the biggest thing you can do, there are no risk that we won´t be ready come qualification time.

FQ: If you get the opportunity to select, which kind of players would you prefer in the team for the qualifier and for the WFC 2012?

DJ: I love players with a floorball mind. A mindset that allows them to be open for new influences, and my leadership lets the players take part in some decisions that we make. I don´t believe in raising robots to play for our team. I want the players to think, reflect and act with a thought in their minds. I want active players that wants to discuss floorball while sitting on the bench getting ready for the next shift, instead of debating what happened at the club last Friday. And I love details, the small things that make the difference.

FQ: Are you planning to implement a specific style of play for the team or what is the plan?

DJ: I am right now thinking of two different ways of playing the defensive system. We´ll see how it will work out during the practices. In the offense I have a clear view on how to play, and it´s going to be an entertaining way of playing floorball.

FQ: Are you doing the selection of the players or how will the selection process be?

DJ: It´s going to be a decision made by our staff as a group, since it´s impossible for me to see every player on the team enough times to make a decision that´s fair.

FQ: What message would you like to send to all those players interested in playing for Team Canada?

DJ: It´s going to be a great ride. We will think, eat and sleep floorball. With enough floorball devotion, there´s always a possibility to play on my team.

FQ: Anything else you would like to add?

DJ: This is just a great honor and I´m all pumped for this. Let´s go Canada!

Thank you David and good luck!