Neepawa Natives coach Bryant Perrier is thrilled for Duncan Keith, a player he coached for two years, following the Chicago Blackhawk defenceman's Stanley Cup victory on Wednesday evening in Philadelphia.

 

Keith, who played for Perrier in his 16 and 17 year old seasons while with Penticton of the BCHL, had a stellar Stanley Cup playoff for his team, and was considered to be one of two players in the running for the Conn Smythe Trophy.

 

Perrier was excited for his former player following the Hawks' game 6 overtime victory, but not surprised.

 

"Duncan is a winner," he said. "He is their best defenceman, so it would make sense that any team he is on would be in the running for success."

 

Despite having Keith for two seasons, Perrier is humble about his impact on Keith's game.

 

Calling Keith a "guy whose determination was going to eventually make all his former coaches look good," the Natives' bench boss went to to say that "a player like Duncan had a will and determination that was exceptional."

 

While the coach is proud of the work he did with the player, he believes that Keith was so exceptional that he would ultimately have found a way to be a star.

 

Undrafted by the WHL and unrecognized in provincial all star selection processes, Keith arrived at his first Penticton camp a "tiny" and "unrefined" player.

 

"He had great skills and was a gifted skater," Perrier said. "But, he was probably about 140 pounds and that was a time when it was a free for all on the ice. The biggest job I had was to protect him from the law of the jungle rules back then."
 

Keith blossomed in his two years of junior A hockey - causing a frenzy for his talents.

 

Perrier said the college recruiting process for Keith was "like something you hear about or see in a movie."

 

"There were offers and visits and people showing up non stop," he said of the process, which eventually saw Keith land at Michigan State. "You see things in the movies where guys are just lined up. That's how it was for him. It was surreal."

 

Through all the years, Perrier says he and Keith maintain contact "from time to time", but the coach says that his relationship with the Norris Trophy candidate is no different than any other former player.

 

"Duncan is a famous person and a wonderful guy with a lot of demands on his time," he said. "I have become a fan and have been very happy for him, but no more for him than for any former player who has gone on to have a good life."

 

"Duncan is a good person I was fortunate to have contact with," the coach said. "But, I am just as proud of a former player who grows up to get an education and to raise a family and be a good dad or the young man who fights through a recession and keeps a roof over his family's heads. Success is about being great at where life has you."

 

As for the current Natives hockey team and group of prospects, the coach is clear that the dream of success is attainable.

 

"Duncan pursued his dreams with passion and an incredible purpose," he said. "An average person with his will and determination could become anything they want."

 

As a player, Perrier says "we have guys in our organization who have the capabilities of doing what Duncan has done if they want to."

 

The catalyst for his current players to reach those heights can be summed up in one word.

 

"Will," he said. "They told him he was too small, he got zero credit, got left off teams, completely overlooked. Today, he stands a champion because he chose to become one."

 

"Nobody really wanted him and he got very little respect until he was 17 years old. If Duncan could do it, anyone can."

 

"He made a choice to succeed."