MINOR ATOM MOHAWKS: Coaches

Philosophy:
It’s the coach’s responsibility to create a positive high energy atmosphere where every player is given a fair and equal chance to do his best and have fun learning and using age appropriate hockey skills.  My on ice assitants and I will do our best to strike the balance between the competitive desire to win and the reality that our players; while skilled and motivated, are still nine.

On Winning:
Winning is good.  Of the three possible outcomes any game can end with, winning is definitely my first choice.  I expect players to come to the rink ready, willing and able to do their very best to achieve this outcome.  Hockey is a team sport, and any teams I’ve coached have achieved their successes as a team.  There have always been heroes who stepped up and gave that little bit extra, but all 16 players were given the same opportunity to fill this role, and more often than not the unlikeliest player was the one who left our opponents…THUNDERSTRUCK. 

We will face opposition who do not share these same ideals.  We will see other teams using “power lines”, “double shifting” and “shortening the bench.”  Victory over those squads will be extra sweet.  The last 2 minutes of the game, like the 34 minutes that precede them, are not mine, they belong to the kids.