Coaching in hockey plays a huge role outside the rink, according to the head coach of men’s hockey at York University.
Russ Herrington, head hockey coach of the York Lions, believes that the best degree to measure the success of a hockey coach is on the positive influence they have on their players.
“I personally believe that the best way to judge a coach is looking 20 years after he coaches a team,” said Herrington. “By that I mean, the biggest influence I can have on my players is asking, ‘Are they going to be good husbands? Are they going to be good fathers?Are they going to be good citizens?’”
Herrington stated that the discipline learned in the sport contributes to the growth of the players in the future.
“I approach that we are using the avenue of hockey to teach those life skills,” said Herrington.
Adam Henrique, a hockey player for the New Jersey Devils, explained how his coach, John Hynes, has been supportive and helpful in bringing out the best in his players.
“Hynes has really come in and created a culture for our team, we’ve kind of had a big changeover in not only management and coaching but players as well,” said Henrique. “He’s always trying to push us to be our best and that’s something that has certainly grown over the past couple of years.”
Casim Shakih, a minor league hockey player who attends Everest Academy, says that his experience with hockey coaches has influenced his personality.
“I have had so many coaches over my hockey career and each and every one of them have taught me things that make me a better person and the person I am today,” said Shakih. “I think if anything, my coaches have taught me how to be accountable and do the right things.”
From one coach to a future coach
Most coaches are already seasoned players. Some coaches, still remember their experience as players and the significant advice they received from coaches.
The coaches that got the best out of me were the ones that focused more on having me understand the things I could control. The things I can control were attitudes, efforts, and my dedication.
Andrew Allen, the goalie coach of the Buffalo Sabres, recalls when he was facing difficulty during a playoff and how his coach Mike Haviland, helped him pull through.
“It was a situation where I had a bad first period and they had to pull me from the game in the playoffs, a lot of times when you get pulled as a goalie everyone just kind of leaves you alone,” said Allen. “But Mike Haviland, by the time I got to the bench, he was already down at the door to talk to me. Basically he told me it was a tough night, to let it go, you are going to start again tomorrow night, you are our guy.”
Allen remembered how Haviland gave him sincere advice – not just the typical words most players want to hear.
“It put my mind at ease right away and allowed me to react naturally and play the next night and we went on to win the championship. It was the best advice I have gotten in a timely situation,” said Allen.
During Herrington’s time at Western University, he was part of the hockey team and he remembers how Reg Higgs, his hockey coach, gave him the best compliment he ever got.
“The coaches that got the best out of me were the ones that focused more on having me understand the things I could control. The things I can control were attitudes, efforts, and my dedication. The best compliment I got was from one of my university coaches, Reg Higgs, and his comment to me when I was graduating was the thing he liked was he knew what he was going to get out of me everyday.”
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