It’s a long way from Flin Flon to Ann Arbor, Michigan – almost 1,200 km, in fact.
For Flin Flon native Mel Pearson, however, the distance is trivial. The real story lies in how he got to Michigan and what he will soon be doing there.
Pearson was named the next head coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines’ hockey team last month.
He earned the job after a lengthy career behind the bench, including 23 seasons with Michigan as an assistant coach and a five-year stint coaching the rival Michigan Tech Huskies.
“It’s really an honour and a privilege. The University of Michigan is obviously one of the finest academic institutions in the world and obviously the athletic programs are top-notch also,” said Pearson. “It’s a big honour and I’m really just looking forward to it.”
Pearson has made his name in Michigan, but in Flin Flon hockey circles his name still connotes hockey royalty.
His dad, the late George (Mel) Pearson, had a long and proud history with the Bombers. Part of the 1957 Memorial Cup-winning Bombers, Mel later returned home to coach the team.
The younger Pearson, 58, was born in Flin Flon. While he spent his early years moving around North America with his family wherever his dad played, Pearson has always considered himself a Flin Flonner.
“Wherever my dad was playing in the winter, we’d pack up and live there, but we’d always return every summer to Flin Flon,” said Pearson. “I spent the summer in Flin Flon until I was out of college, around 22 years old. I really consider Flin Flon to be my home.”
Pearson went to high school in Edina, Minnesota and joined Michigan Tech after graduating, playing for the Huskies for four seasons and coming back to Flin Flon to spend his summers working at HBM&S, now part of Hudbay.
Every year, once classes and the hockey season ended, Pearson would trade in his stick, puck and textbooks for a jackleg drill and coveralls.
“I did a little bit of everything,” Pearson said. “I worked in the zinc plant one summer. I went underground at North Main for a couple summers, working in the steel shop, straightening steel and sharpening up. I had to fill in at the changehouse one year, too. I enjoyed it. You meet a lot of really neat people there and learn about the industry and the mine itself and how things operate.”
When you ask Pearson about his memories of Flin Flon, you’d better be prepared for a long conversation. The images come out like a flood: stories of fishing trips, golf outings and Flin Flon’s time-honoured hockey culture.
“Since I moved away, I really don’t fish because it’s not the same. Up in Flin Flon, it’s not fishing – it’s catching,” joked Pearson. “Down here, you have to fish for them.”
While he never suited up for the Bombers himself and rarely got to see them play, the Flin Flon club had a big impact on Pearson growing up.
“That was huge. Just the name, when you mention Flin Flon, even to this day, the Bombers or Bobby Clarke will come up,” said Pearson. “It’s still unbelievable. There’s such a rich and long tradition of hockey in Flin Flon that it, no question, left an impact on me and my brother.”
Pearson hasn’t made the 1,200-km trek up north in six years. His last time home was for a trip after his son graduated from high school.
“He hadn’t been up there, he hadn’t remembered Flin Flon,” said Pearson. “Because of my deep roots there, I wanted to make sure he knew a bit about where I came from. We came back and stayed up there for about three or four days.”
Pearson hopes to make his next trip back to Flin Flon this summer, mentioning an interest in attending the Homecoming.
“We’ll see if we can get there. I’d love to, it’s just time permitting and job permitting,” he said. “That’d be great, just to be there and be around the people, our old acquaintances and friends.”
In the meantime, back in Ann Arbor, Pearson is looking forward to the upcoming season. His university club boasts a boatload of talent, having produced nine NHL draft picks last season.
Pearson is cautious but hopeful when asked to predict how the season will go.
“It’s a little too early to tell. You’ve got to get to know the players a bit, what they’re capable of,” he said. “I’ve played against them before, we played them three times last year and we saw them on TV a lot. I’ve got a little bit of [a plan] on the team and the players. We’re going to change some systems and some things around, but having said that, I know they’ve got good talent here.”
Pearson also made mention of two former Flin Flon Bombers, Alex Smith and Greyson Reitmeier, who have earned scholarships at Pearson’s former school, Michigan Tech.
The Huskies flourished under Pearson’s tutelage, reaching the NCAA tournament three years in a row and winning last year’s WCHA conference title.
“Alex Smith had a really good year for us this year,” said Pearson. “He’s been invited to the Calgary Flames development camp this summer because of that. I’m happy for him and he’s going to have a bright future at Michigan Tech. A lot of times in your freshman year, you’re just finding your way, but I thought Alex did a great job.
“Greyson Reitmeier is scheduled to come in, also. Unfortunately, I won’t be there to see that, but I know I was excited when we got him to come to Tech. I know the Michigan Tech people are excited to have him coming in there too.”
Reitmeier, last year’s SJHL scoring leader and player of the year, will join Tech next season. The prospect of facing the 6-ft 4-in power forward isn’t a fun one, even for Pearson.
“I was thinking… ‘Eeee…can I get him here?’” he said, before adding with a wry chuckle, “I have to be careful, don’t want to burn too many bridges back there.”
Pearson had some kind words for his old hometown team, saying he was pleased with the Bombers’ recent results and head coach and GM Mike Reagan.
“I’m just really happy to see the success that the Bombers have had the last couple years,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know Mike and spend some time with him at some camps, and I think he’s done an excellent job with that team and being able to attract good players. I’m just happy to see that, not only for the Bombers but for the town and the fans.”
