Ice Hockey: Chris plans future but he's not ready to hang up stick

Published on Friday 18 September 2009 09:54

GLOBETROTTING Chris Allen is already planning for his retirement from ice hockey.

He's a ski instructor and soon hopes to become a professional golfer. But the former NHL player believes he has several more seasons in him.

And he is convinced that he can help Edinburgh Capitals make the final four in the Elite League for the first time.

Allen, who has iced for NHL cracks Florida Panthers, has played in Finland, Norway, Austria, Denmark, Hungary and in Asia.

And he holds a number of records. They include the most goals scored by a defenceman in the Ontario Hockey League, equalling the legendary Bobby Orr, the most shots by a defenceman in one game – 21 – while he boasts one of the fastest slap shots.

But it's not personal records the 31-year-old has come here to achieve. He wants to see Edinburgh break into the top four.

And the affable defenceman said: "I don't talk about my personal targets. I'm here to help the team progress.

"From what I've heard the team we have, on paper, is the best this club has ever had.

"That's great, and our objective collectively is to make the final four at the end of the season."

Allen revealed that he has had an unusual agreement built into his contracts prior to his Capitals move.

He said: "I've been a vegetarian for ten years. I don't cook much, but I've had eating in vegetarian restaurants built into my contract.

"I particularly like Indian vegetarian curries and I would hope to find restaurants who serve good ones in Edinburgh.

"I would also hope that some vegetarian restaurant in Edinburgh would like to have me as a face of that restaurant."

Allen lives in a ski centre in British Columbia – handy as he's an instructor. But he added: "I'm working towards getting my golf professional qualifications and my current handicap is three.

"Hopefully, I can go into golf when I'm finished playing hockey but that is a few years away yet.

"I've played all over. Japan was great. I spent a month there and I also went to Shanghai for a week – that was fabulous. I've also played so many different styles of hockey. Finnish and Norwegian hockey had strength in depth.

"Austria was Canadian orientated but Asia had several former NHL players and the rest of the team was made up by locals.

"The Japanese were really small but they were quick and so were the Chinese. It's been interesting but now I'm here to do a job for Doug (Christiansen) and the Capitals."