It’s a long way from Caroline, Alberta to Belfast, Ireland (over 4,000 miles) but Jim Vandermeer has put on a few miles during his NHL career so this is just another leg on his trip.
The record shows six NHL teams and five different pro leagues which now includes the British Elite Hockey League with the Stena Line Belfast Giants.
He had his contract with Kloten in the Swiss League bought out by the team which took some time and once that was wrapped up the other European teams like ones in Germany had already filled their rosters with their imports.
“I kind of had to wait until either somebody played crappy enough that they were bought out of their contract and sent home which actually happens often in Europe or for somebody to get hurt,” said the 36 year old, former Red Deer Rebel captain.
So he was basically sitting around for quite some time ,getting a couple of nibbles but not enough to entice him to uproot his family, wife Stefanie and his two young children. With about two months left on the season he got a call from player/coach Derrick Walser whom he played with in the Spengler Cup. So it was off to Belfast to finish off the tail end of the season and liked enough to sign on for another year with the Giants.
“It’s funny how it worked out. We didn’t really plan it or anything,” he said.
Vandermeer says he checked things out once they were certain of moving there and received a quick education on the situation once he and his family arrived. There are no sides taken.
“You don’t choose anything,” he said. “I just say I’m not from here. I’m just a hockey player.”
The Giants were formed as part of the peace agreement signed with the IRA in order to give something back to the community. Changes to the rink rules in order to avoid any attachment to a particular religion were made so rugby or soccer jerseys which might identify a person’s religious affiliation are banned from the rink as are flags. As well, the United Kingdom national anthem isn’t played before games and it seems to work.
He says the rink in Belfast can hold about five thousand fans but if the Giants are playing a league rival they can move in seats to expand capacity to nearly seven thousand.
A lot of the teams here involve some schooling along with their contracts and he’s going to be entering the Masters Program at Ulster University with an option through the NHLPA education program to do some online learning through Athabasca University,with an eye on sports management. It’s a double bonus for him as he gets to play hockey and get some education for when the hockey is no longer in the cards.
“I’m at the point in my career where I’m trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do for the next 30 years,” he said.
He says the hockey being played is along the lines of what you might see in the East Coast Hockey League in North America. But he added, more AHL and college players are being signed so the product is improving.
“The first two lines have pretty good players and then it kind of drops off a bit after that and that’s mostly because of the money involved,” he said. “Salaries are not the best here but some of the good players at the end of their career, they want to be some place where they know they’re going to be for a couple of years and take some school.”
He said once he knew the NHL wasn’t an option the lure of travelling Europe and experiencing a different life style was strong.
Schooling is part of the plan and he has other options he’s like to explore.
“I have a feeling I want to dip my toe into coaching and see how that goes. I think I would be really good at it. I’m just not sure how much I would enjoy it.”
He’s getting a taste of it with the Giants with his experience and he says whatever offers may come his way it could be anything from some level of pro hockey down to the junior ranks.
“Who knows if I’m even the right option for a particular team at the right time and I’m well aware of that.”
So there is a road map of sorts laid out for him and hockey is the vehicle which can take him places. The game is still a big part of his life.
“I’m just a big kid right. I mean I jump on the ice and I absolutely love it. There are days when the body is sore and you’re moaning that you have to be there (the rink) an hour before and you’ve got meetings and stuff. As soon as you step on the ice you’ve got 20 big kids out there, playing the game and screwing around, trying new things,” he said. “I’ve always said that as soon as it becomes work then I don’t want to do it. I still do it because I love it. I think it’s something you don’t really outgrow if you love the game.”
Through the years anyone who watched Jim Vandermeer play know what type of player he is-a stay at home defenceman who takes care of his own end, ready to drop the gloves if need be and maybe contribute in the offence side of the ledger.
His NHL stats bear that out with 461 games played, 25 goals and 661 penalty minutes. He has a similar role in Belfast with some changes. He’s playing more minutes and he can step out of his NHL role. It’s all positive.
“I get to go there and play and have fun and do all the stuff I didn’t get to do when I was a little more limited playing in a lot more structured system in the NHL,” he said. “There, it’s this is your job, this is what you’ve got to do and leave the creative stuff to the better players.”
As a member of the Giants Vandermeer continues to do what he has done with any team he has played on and that’s getting involved in the community with hockey clinics and other public appearances. He says you can use the team as your voice because there is some weight being carried as a member of the Giants.
“I’m not a big flashy guy. There’s a lot of stuff you do off to the side, not to get any recognition for but just because it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
It seems for now, Belfast is the right place to be.
