A new season is underway, and it is great to be rinkside again, watching junior hockey.
The beginning of a new campaign brings excitement. There is not a better time to catch up with players, coaches, and team executives. So with that in mind, we bring you the first of the Meet the Lethbridge Hurricanes Coaching Staff series. Over the first few weeks of the season, I’m going to take a few moments to sit down with one of the coaches each week.
We start today with video coach Andrew Doty, the longest serving member of that staff. He has been with the team now for six seasons and also has spent some time coaching with Hockey Canada.
Coach Doty shared some thoughts about his experience working with Hockey Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup the past two summers:
A.D.: “So I think it’s obviously a huge honor anytime you can go and represent Canada and be part of those teams. They’re really good teams. And especially, you know, as the years go by, you start to hear the names that have played in this tournament, and they’re all big names — guys in the NHL and high-end players. It’s pretty neat to be a part of that. The other thing that’s awesome about those experiences is the people that you get to work with — everybody at hockey Canada and the staff that they bring in. It’s all just first class. And so, you know, working with other high-end coaches within our league and within the other leagues in the CHL is great learning. You can bring a lot of things back to your own team. And that’s, that’s one of the most exciting things about those opportunities and those tournaments.”
DN: Doty has had the opportunity to coach NHL-drafted forward Dylan Cozens at both the international and club level. He explained what that’s like and what makes the Yukon native so special:
A.D.: “It’s awesome for Dylan, not only to have the success that he’s had here with us but then to be recognized (at the NHL draft). And It’s tough to make the U18 team, so for him to get there and get that honor of being able to go it’s pretty special and it’s cool to be able to see him in both of those lights.”
DN: Working with high profile hockey players and management isn’t new for Coach Doty. I asked him about working with general manager Peter Anholt and what he has learned from the Hurricanes mastermind. Also, he added in a comment on bench boss Brent Kisio:
A.D.: “It’s been phenomenal. Peter, first off, I mean, the experience that he has, he’s been in the league for over 30 years. And (he’s) just a really good guy, a real good hockey guy. The knowledge that he’s given me and help with everything in every aspect of the organization — it’s been invaluable to me. And then the same thing with Brent. I mean, Brent has been in the league for a long time now, obviously, being an assistant for nine years before coming here as a head coach. And we’ve been able to work together basically right from his start here as head coach, and he’s brought me along so far on the hockey side. There was obviously so much that I didn’t know coming from him and still lots that I don’t know, but he’s been huge in that and I wouldn’t be able to be here without him for sure.”
DN: Noting the passion and the energy he puts into the Lethbridge Hurricanes to make the team successful, you have to wonder what the end goal is for Andrew. While he stated there are other goals, he emphasized that he isn’t done or satisfied at the WHL level yet:
A.D.: “Well, I mean, I think everybody in this league and the players, the coaches, the management, the scouting staff — you know it’s a development league. You want to move up and the NHL is kind of the big mecca for that, obviously. And so for sure that’s a dream in the future to go and work in the National Hockey League. But this league is a great league. It’s been really special to be a part of, and we haven’t won yet with our group here. And that’s something that we certainly want to do. We want to bring a championship here to Lethbridge before I start thinking too much about moving on elsewhere.”
DN: Coach Doty went on to expand on the excitement headed into the season to try and accomplish what he and the team set out to do:
A.D.: “I think it’s huge. The biggest thing about this year that’s been a little bit different than the last couple of years is we have a lot of new faces. And so, obviously, not performing as well last year, there are lots of opportunities as well. We have got lots of new guys pushing in and that makes it lots and lots of excitement in camp and going through the preseason here of figuring out who’s going to take over those jobs.”
A.D.: “The biggest thing with our organization, and the message that we’ve been pretty clear about early on, is that everything is earned and nothing is given. And so that’s a huge thing. That’s for our returning guys going back this year. And for all these new guys pushing in, there’s an opportunity. You gotta take it. We’re not going to give you anything — you gotta earn that.”
A.D.: “I think a couple of guys pushing in that have been — I don’t know about surprise is the right word — but somebody that fans won’t know of would be Chase Wheatcroft, for sure. I think he’s done a really good job. And then it’s nice to see a couple of our younger returning guys, like Zack Stringer and Noah Boyko, having taken another step, and Logan Barlage as well. We haven’t seen him yet here (in the preseason). But in camp, obviously, we did see him. He’s gotten faster and stronger. And so those are all exciting things for us.”
DN: So what would Coach Doty call a fair expectation for this group headed into 2019-20 season?
A.D.: “Win as many as we can, you know. I don’t think you want to go into this season and say, ‘We’re going to be here, we’re going to be there.’ And especially early on, it’s all about we want to do things the right way right from the beginning. And that’s going to lead to our successes. It’s all about just preparing the right way. You don’t want to get caught up in the ups and downs, especially early on. As that’s junior hockey. It’s sometimes you play good and you lose. Sometimes you play terrible and you win. It’s all about the process for us doing everything the right way, preparing the right way, getting better every day. And that’s going to lead to success in the end.”
DN: So what motivated Coach Doty to pursue a career in hockey? He went back in time to give his best advice to a young Andrew Doty and to anyone else looking to chase their dreams:
A.D.: “I think the biggest thing 15 years ago, I just absolutely loved hockey. And that’s what’s ultimately been helpful in getting me here. Obviously, I can’t be thankful enough to Peter Anholt and Brent Kisio and everybody here that has helped me come a long way in getting this job. But it all started with just the passion for the game. And I think if you really enjoy it and love what you do, then from there, you can, you know, learn the skills and learn what you need to do and spend the time. And that’s really what it is is the work and the time and it’s hard to do if you don’t love it. So the biggest thing is finding something you’re passionate about. And for me it’s hockey, and then it goes from there.”
Shooting the breeze…
Since this conversation, the Hurricanes opened the season by going 1-0-0-1 in two games against the Medicine Hat Tigers…The Hurricanes dropped their opener at home 4-3 in a shootout after giving up a 3-1 lead in the third period. Coach Brent Kisio gave his assessment. “Obviously, there were more chances given up than we wanted to. But (there was) a lot of good support and a lot of things we can learn from other chances to win the game.”…Lethbridge spoiled the party in Medicine Hat on Saturday with a 3-1 win…The team also welcomed back defencemen Calen Addison for the road game. He was reassigned early the previous day by the Pittsburgh Penguins after a good training camp…Next up for Coach Doty and the Hurricanes is a date at the Enmax Center as they host the Red Deer Rebels.
