The 25-year-old arrived in Dunedin last Thursday and is one of five imports on the Dunedin Thunder’s roster for this year. Hailing from Quebec, Canada, the physical defender played his first pre-season game for the team in just his second day in the South.
While the result did not go the Thunder’s way — it lost both games heavily — he was expecting big things as the side prepares for its next two pre-season hit-outs against the Canterbury Red Devils in Dunedin this weekend.
"I want to help people get better, but you cannot get committed to a team without thinking about winning a championship," he said of his goal.
"I’ve never played hockey just to get better. I want to win and this is the main goal.
"And we have a shot, never mind the score last week in Queenstown.
"[It was the] first game and we had a lot of young people and new players coming in, so [the goal is to] just win."
Coulombe had played in the top league in Quebec, which he said was a physical competition.
He also had experience in France, where the game was faster, and had played in the top Eastern Canadian junior league for the team NHL star Sidney Crosby once turned out for.
After considering coming to New Zealand five years ago, he decided this year was the right time.
He wrote a letter to Thunder manager Alexis Robin and made it happen.
Since arriving he had enjoyed the city, as well as being impressed with the standard of hockey.
However he hopes to keep boosting that standard and help the sport grow in popularity. Thunder coach Matt Hladun said his side had plenty do work on after losing to the Stampede 9-0 and 9-4 in Queenstown last week.
"We know what we have to do. It is just a matter of executing it,’’ Hladun said.
"We are definitely going to improve. I think there are a lot of positives. We’ve had a good week of training and I think they are ready.
"They are eager, motivated and keen to improve."
The Thunder will field a stronger and more experienced side than the team which went to Queenstown.
It is the team’s last competitive hit-out before its season opener against the West Auckland Admirals at the Dunedin Ice Stadium on June 10.
"We’ve talked specifically about what they need to do and what we want to do is minimise turnovers that were made in the last game and get those out of the system.
"I think we can do better defensively in terms of positioning and making sure we are not giving the opposition as many opportunities. On the offence, it is more about capitalising on our chances."
The Thunder has introduced a new promotion this season to help it engage with the community.
For each series of home games the Thunder will invite two schools to attend the games free. This weekend pupils from St Clair School, and the pupils from Musselburgh School who are part of the ice skating programme can take up the offer.
Pre-season clash
Venue: Dunedin Ice Stadium
When: Today 7pm and tomorrow at 3.30pm
Dunedin Thunder: Daniel Lee, Kane Easterbrook, Regan Wilson, Benedict Roth, Juris Berzins, Pierre-Luc Coulombe, Noah Leahy, Dylan Devlin, George Coslett, Kevin Jagau, Liam Kinney, Matas Barakauskas, Tristan Darling, Paris Heyd, Joel Scott, Joe Orr, Jacob Hurring, Greg Wilson, Monty Brown, Liam Roth.
