Canucks get coaching help

Due to the problems we encountered both on and off the ice at last week’s game, we’ve decided that getting a coach would be the best plan to help us get our act together. I’ve spoken to a number of players on the team about this decision and it seems that pretty much everyone is in agreement that this is the direction we need to take.

I’ve spoken to both Mr. Smouter and Mr. Poort, and they have agreed to take on the role of co-coaches for our team. Due to possible outside commitments, neither could commit full-time, so we agreed that sharing the duties between the two of them would be the best scenario. Both of them are aware of our reasons for needing a coach, and they are both willing to help.

At least one of them (hopefully both) will be at our next game to help start the process of building a quality hockey team. Please show up a few minutes earlier so that we can have some discussions prior to the game with them. I’m sure we all have a lot of ideas we’d like to share with them regarding: lines, strategy, or whatever, so that would be a good time to talk to the coaches, and make them aware of the current situation, and what direction we would like to go.

Having coaches can be a big advantage in maximizing our team’s potential. However, it will only work if everyone on the team respects and listens to their advice and direction. These men are volunteering their time to coach us, so if we as players start abusing them the way we abused each other last game, or don’t respect what they have to say, they will lose their effectiveness and they will have every right to just walk away. The coach’s responsibility is to read what the situation is and make decisions to help fix any problems. We, as a team, have asked them to take this role, so if anyone has any problems with their decisions, don’t start bitching and moaning in the middle of a game – take some time to chat calmly with them at an opportune time. I realize that I shouldn’t have to say all this because you guys are all good guys that know all this already, but hockey does bring out a dark side in many of us, so I think it is worth mentioning.

Anyways, if anyone has a problem with this decision, please don’t bitch about it here on the site or at the games. Give me a call and we’ll talk about it.

Thanks guys…