Brad Tapper: From NHL Player to HC Slovan Bratislava Head Coach

A hockey team, players and coaches will notify you, is like a large family. And perhaps there are extremely few coaches in hockey who could say more about family than Brad Tapper, current coach of HC Slovan Bratislava. Born in Scarborough, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto, Tapper’s upbringing extended beyond his immediate family. “My parents as well raised children in foster care. And it wasn’t easy at all,” says Tapper.

Slovan Bratislava’s Successful Season

In his first season with Slovan Bratislava, Tapper has focused on instilling the values he learned throughout his life. The team has shown significant progress, finishing the regular season in 2nd place and advancing to the playoff quarterfinals against Liptovský Mikuláš.

Playoff Readiness

“Everyone can’t wait to gain started. We had 12 days to recover and rest, but at the same time we trained hard. We competed with each other, we worked on fitness. The guys are ready to travel. Everyone wants to start already, so the training sessions were very fine,” Tapper stated.

Reflecting on the Regular Season

Tapper expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance throughout the regular season. “I think it was a fantastic season. We finished in second place. Compared to the seventh place from last year, we moved up by 21 points. We scored more goals, conceded fewer goals. In my opinion, it was a very successful core part.”

He highlighted a couple of games where officiating decisions impacted the outcome. “We probably should have won the match in Košice… They had a two-player advantage… Spišská came, we led 1:0, two of their players threw themselves on the ice, we lost 1:2. That’s six points. Nitra came, it was 1:1… we lost again. So our run game has to be a little bit better. We also have to be more reasonable about where we have our hockey sticks. We can’t allow players to throw themselves all over the ice.”

Overcoming Challenges

Addressing a minor slump towards the end of the regular season, Tapper emphasized the importance of competitiveness. “The competitiveness we have to play with in the playoffs. Now the new season begins. We competed in training sessions, we worked on our fitness. We have to play extremely hard. It’s like a new season and the guys are excited. It will be important to win the personal battles that we have to win.”

Looking Ahead to the Playoffs

Tapper anticipates a hungry and determined Slovan team in the playoffs. “The same and hopefully even better. As I said, we had a great first half, we finished second… You will see the same team, but hungrier. A team that wants to win.”

Opponent Analysis: Liptovský Mikuláš

Regarding their quarterfinal opponent, Tapper noted, “It is a team with good goalkeepers. They have good defenders who are offensive but also block shots. It is a team made up of young, smart and swift attackers. They are a quality team and it will be a very tough series.”

A Return to Slovakia

Tapper shared his initial reaction to the offer from HC Slovan Bratislava’s General Manager, Lukáš Havlíček. “I didn’t grasp what to expect. But now, after nine months in this country, I can say that I love Slovakia. I think you are very much like us Canadians. We also like hockey, we are proud of it and we have a passion for it.”

He expressed his fondness for Bratislava, stating, “I love this city… I live near the Aged Town, I go there every day for walks. I would like to stay here as long as possible. As long as I’m in a place where they like Canadians and good people – and we are – I’m friends with everybody. I’m really happy here. I love this job. I am happy that Lukáš approached me and I sense honored to have this position.”

Tapper, born April 28, 1978, has had a diverse hockey career, playing in the NHL for the Atlanta Thrashers, as well as in leagues in the US, Canada, and Germany before transitioning to coaching. He previously served as co-trainer with ERC Ingolstadt in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), head coach of the Iserlohn Roosters, and held positions with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Adirondack Thunder, Rochester Americans, Chicago Wolves, Orlando Solar Bears, and Florida Everblades.

A Previous Visit

Tapper recalled a previous visit to Bratislava two years prior. “I traveled to ten countries in Europe… We started in the north in Finland… I really liked it here. I live near the Old Town, I go there every day for walks.”

He admitted he didn’t know much about Slovan before accepting the position but quickly learned about the club’s history and significance. “Petr Kúdelka and Lukáš explained to me what it means to be a Slav… Milan Vajda took me to lunch and told me about the derby, rivalries, history since 1921.”

Coaching Philosophy

Tapper described his coaching style as fostering a friendly yet disciplined environment. “I’m friends with everyone in the cabin… I respect everyone and I want everyone to respect me. I don’t want to have any enemies.” He emphasized the importance of accuracy, punctuality, and respect for all individuals.

He also highlighted the importance of community engagement, believing that the club and fans should function as a family. He shared anecdotes about his upbringing, where his parents fostered numerous children, instilling in him a sense of empathy and responsibility.

“We craft a living by playing hockey. And some people in this world don’t have anything to eat all week. Bombs are falling on some children right now. So we really should focus on just moving forward.”

Tapper concluded by expressing his commitment to Slovan Bratislava and his desire to continue building a successful future with the club.