PIERRE PAGÉ is the global sports director hockey at Red Bull. The former NHL head coach/GM took on the newly created position in '14. In his role, he oversees the Red Bull Hockey Model, which is the name for all hockey activities under the Red Bull umbrella. The model includes two top-tier professional clubs in Germany and Austria -- EHC Red Bull Munich and EC Red Bull Salzburg; youth teams, which compete nationally and internationally; and the Red Bull Hockey Academy near Salzburg, which opened last year. The 67-year-old Canadian talked to SBD Global about the concept behind Red Bull's hockey program, expansion plans, brand value and a proposed new arena in Munich.
On the vision for Red Bull's hockey program ...
Pierre Pagé: Our vision is to be different and significantly better. Our mission is to develop, entertain and win. We want to identify players from all countries who can and want to pay the price to develop in a scholarship atmosphere and to be successful in the NHL.
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EHC Red Bull Munich
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On expansion the program to other countries ...
Pagé: Right now, the focus lies on our Academy in Austria. We try to bring the best players here and provide more international games against top-six hockey countries. All this includes implementation of principles of sport science in a school’s scholarship environment.
On cooperation with other Red Bull-supported sports ...
Pagé: Chemistry is there. We have to align all together if possible.
On the importance of the two professional clubs ...
Pagé: It is all incorporated in the same concept. It starts with the youngest teams from U6 till U10. Followed by the 10 to 15-year-old players who are focusing on skills practice. With the teams U17 and U18 we play at the highest possible level against older players and the best six or seven U20 players should play with the DEL or EBEL team.
On hockey's significance for the Red Bull brand ...
Pagé: Hockey has been a part of the world of Red Bull since the beginning in 1987. Our program focuses both on national as well as on international playgrounds like Champions Hockey League and worldwide junior games and tournaments.
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EC Red Bull Salzburg
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On the proposed new arena in Munich ...
Pagé: Please note that we can't comment on any possible future projects at this point.
On the impact of a new state-of-the-art facility ...
Pagé: Please note that we can´t comment on any possible future projects at this point but a modern infrastructure always helps to grow the game.
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