Daniel Janser Biography

[Daniel Janser 1,983]

Daniel Janser LW/C

5'8'', 183lbs

S81 8th overall pick by the Calgary Wranglers

 

We already learned how Daniel was a rather late bloomer for playing hockey himself. However, he went to EVZ matches with his dad from an early age and as often as possible. The heroes of his childhood were Kenny Yaremchuk, Dino Kessler, John Fritsche, Wes Walz and Bill McDougall. But above all Misko Antisin. The Swiss-Canadian forward with Russian heritage was the epitome of a gritty scorer for young Daniel. The Vancouver born forward also carried a Swiss passport and did not count against the import player limitations in the Swiss league. It was after him that Daniel styled his own way of interpreting the forward role. 

 

EVZ logo during Daniel's childhood

 

And when NHL-legend Claude Lemieux decided in the autumn of his career to play for Zug, Daniel just HAD to attend every game and buy the Jersey.

 

As time went by, he was discovered by a scout of EVZ who saw how hockey players tried to intimidate and bully the minuscule and sinewy guy who played pond hockey with his friends. But he twisted and turned, bobbed and weaved, braked and accelerated so that they could rarely land their hits on him. He used their size and weight against them. So he was invited to join the local team for a tryout. When he arrived, the coaches asked him: 'What position do you play?' To which Daniel laconically replied: 'You tell me, coach.' They soon found out that he was as good as his word and could play on all skating position, as his mind was at least as agile as his skating. Changing from Left Wing to Right Wing was easy for him as he was (and still is) ambidextrous, which explains why his backhand shot is so lethal and why he can 'fish' pucks from the 'wrong' side. His versatility was the team's blessing but his curse, as there were always designated specialized players on every position and he would fill in for whoever could not make the line up.

 

Once he qualified for college, he was drafted into the army and his hockey playing games came to a grinding stop, as he served his country for a full year.

 

After that, his brother and he decided to go abroad to Canada, to learn a different kind of hockey and to see wether they can prevail as rather short players and find a role in the Northamerican market. So they signed up for the first ever JST and were enlisted into the Brigade. Their play peaked the interest of the Mississauga Hounds and they were drafted alongside. Mid-season the brothers got traded to the Reapers. Dan finished with 40g/40a in 72 games and draw attention from several renowned Franchises such as Seattle, Helsinki and Calgary from the VHL and Bratislava, Cologne, Rome and Istanbul from the VHLE. Ultimately the Oslo Storm of the VHLE and Calgary secured his rights, both in the first round of their respective draft.

 

Since he was drafted into the VHL, Daniel's goal has become to join fellow Swiss Scott Boulet and Scotty Campbell in the HOF and the former in the Calgary rafters. And his first three seasons did not look like he would get there. He was a solid PPG player and reliable in his defensive duties, but nothing was screaming 'super star'. However, Dan just kept on grinding in the torture chamber, making extra shifts in team practice and take a leaf out of more experienced players' book to better himself. For his efforts and his natural leadership, he was named alternate captain in his sophomore year and the year after and captain for the seasons 85 and 86.

 

one of Dan's idols, Scott Boulet

 

S85 would be the breakthrough season for Janser. He upped his goal scoring by 50% from 34 in the previous season to 51, securing him the Kevin Brooks Trophy. His assists went up 40% from 41 to 57, which helped him also winning the Mike Szatkowski Award. Next to a first team all-star nomination he was also voted by his peers for the Brett Slobodzian Trophy for the most outstanding player in the league. But his season was not only blessed from  a professional point of view. During that season he also met his girlfriend Bonnie Ferguson. They moved in together and he has already met her family back in Glasgow.

 

S86 looks very promising as well. The Wranglers are at the top of their conference and indeed the league after thirty matches played. Not to a small extent thank to the Swiss veteran, who is also on top of his peers in the points race. Daniel never trusts his own success though and he just works out incessantly and hopes he is not falling from a cliff. Let's see whether it will be enough to make his dream come true to lift the cup in the Red/White/Black uniform and to enter the Holy Halls of the VHL HOF. 

Edited November 29, 2022 by Daniel Janser