Appointed as Head Coach on a two year contract as part of an exciting restructure of the organisation’s on-ice management Derrick Walser joined the Stena Line Belfast Giants at the beginning of the 2015/16 season.
Walser is a 38 year old defenceman who boasts experience in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets, over 200 games with the DEL’s Eisbären Berlin as well as Spengler Cup success twice with Team Canada.
The Giants player coach who hails from Nova Scotia, Canada joined the club from Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of Switzerland’s famous ‘A’ league – posting 123 points in 185 games during his previous four years there while being leading scoring defenceman in the 2013/14 & 2014/15 seasons.
Walser is without doubt one of the most creative players in the league and views the ice extremely well. That coupled with poise and composure on the puck has seen Derrick average almost a point per game in Giants colours and sits amongst the top scoring defencemen in the Elite League.
A coach that isn’t scared to speak his mind, Walser has been forced with dicult decisions to date this season having to rotate players when playing with a fully healthy lineup.