The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
1. What do you enjoy most about coaching? Dealing with young people and feeling that I have a helping hand in their careers and help them be a successful person in life. 2. How far would you like to go with coaching? I would like to take it to the highest levelÐthe NHL. It's just the opportunity that separates people from success. 3. What is your most memorable coaching moment(s)? Going to the RBC Cup in 1995. The Viking Cups. Coming to Flin Flon. The Bomber fans who came to Melfort to cheer on the team was a memorable moment. 4. Is there anyone in the coaching ranks you look up to? Andy Murray (present coach of the Los Angeles Kings). He's a presentator at Hockey Manitoba for the advanced level coaches. He's so well organized and I'm impressed with his preparation and attention to detail. 5. What is your favourite hockey movie? Slap Shot, for sure. Miracle is a second choice. 6. How did you know you wanted to coach? When my playing days ended, I wanted to stay involved in the game. I experienced success in my first coaching job and that helped me realize I enjoyed it. 7. What do you do to prepare for a game? I analyse the opposition and discuss key things for successÐstrengths and weaknesses and have a tactical plan and motivate the players. 8. Do you have a favourite NHL team? Not really. It used to be the Winnipeg Jets. Now I kind of like L.A. because of Andy Murray. 9. What music do you like? When I was younger it was rock 'n' roll. I've become more of a country person. I'm open to music except for jazz. 10. What's your greatest accomplishment in life? Providing a stable environment for my family to grow up in. My kids have turned out to be pretty good. 11. There's no pressure with this question, but which has been your favourite team to be part of? I don't think it boils down to one team. Each one has been a different challenge. I've enjoyed every team I ever had. One I really liked was the 1995 Winnipeg South Blues. That was a fourth place .500 team. That organization is a big part of my life as I spent 15 years there. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the organization. 12. Is there anything that's been tough about your experience in Flin Flon? No, everything has gone well. The organization has been tremendous and the community good. Guys have given everything that you can ask. 13. Has coaching in the SJHL been what you thought it would be? Yeah, it has been very professionally run. There's no days off and competition is at a high level. 14. Who is the best player(s) you've ever coached? There's lots of good ones. I can't pick one out. Tyler Arnason (now with the Ottawa Senators and Garnet Exelby (Atlanta Thrashers) are ones that come to mind. 15. What is your opinion on the growth of women's hockey? It's a positive. Hockey provides a lot of life value. It's important and those values go a long way. 16. If you were president of the SJHL, is there anything you would change in the league? I haven't been around long enough to say. It's run very, very well. 17. What do you like to do away from hockey? As little as possible (with a laugh). I like to spend time with my wife, Myrna, and my familyÐmy grandson. 18. What was it like to coach with your sons? It was a great experience. Another thing in hockey I never thought would happen in my wildest dreams. 19. What's the toughest thing about being a coach? At this level, the pressure that comes with it. Developing players has to be more important than just winning. It's a fine line.3/13/2006
