Q And A With The Coach - The Summer Stretch
June 16, 2010
Neepawanatives.com is pleased to provide another edition of Q And A With The Coach. This edition is entitled The Summer Stretch and touches on topics such as recruiting, the depth chart, the state of the organization as well as other topics pertaining to the hockey team. Enjoy!
Q - How are things going with the team?
BP - "Things are going well. We are having a good recruiting season. We are really finding that our veteran players are remaining focused, but are also having great summers. Our training program is good, guys are putting on size and are becoming more and more fit as the weeks go by. Little things are happening to show tangible growth and progress. It has been a very rewarding off season to date."
Q - When you say recruiting is going well, what is it that makes you confident?
BP - "First of all we are bringing in very good hockey players. After being in the league for a full year now, our staff is completely in tune with what is needed to set the tone out here. Last year was an unknown for the most part with our returning guys. We knew what our recruits were able to do, but we didn't have a true indication of our veteran players and what they could do. This year we know both."
Q - What can fans expect?
BP - "There are two things that will never be compromised with The Neepawa Natives. First, we will never be outworked. Second, we will never be pushed around or disrespected on the ice. Fans can expect a hard working and tough team. They can also expect a major upgrade in skill. We got way bigger this off season, but we also upgraded our skill level a whole bunch."
Q - Can fans expect an up tempo game from this year's team?
BP - "I believe firmly that we will have the components to be able to play it any way we want to. If we need to be up tempo and push the pace we will. If we need to bring our lunch pails and muck it up we will. Last season we gave up the second least shots in the league and we right up there in goals against. We scored a lot in the second half because team speed became an asset. This year, our speed is off the charts coming in to camp."
Q - How do you approach the summer as a general manager? Does that take up a big part of your time?
BP - "This summer, we are taking steps to fortify and solidify the success of our business operations and our organizational structure. We are growing stronger financially, organizationally and economically. Our brand is growing every day. Feedback has been exceptional. We have a great group of people on our executive and in our organization. Our accounting and business operation has taken on an even more stream lined and systematic approach. We own our own coach liner for travel. We have recently been blessed with a whole new state of the art fitness system. We are just really enjoying success as an organization right now."
Q - What are some of the reasons for the current level of success?
BP - "Our board of directors and executive are exceptional people. The core group are highly successful people and they are winners in their own personal endeavours. We have people on our board who run their own businesses and who are successful parents and people. Those people give our organization stability. They all want to win and they all want the best. They are hungry for success here and it makes things work."
Q - Do you work closely with the board?
BP - "Very closely. They are my employers and I answer to them. They are the heart of this organization. They are also always available to help us get better. I include them on everything I do and I talk to them every day. We work side by side. They are great people and they are directly related to all of the success we are experiencing here."
Q - Is the team looking to win next year?
BP - "We have a stable program on and off the ice. We have great billets, our school system works incredibly well with our players. We have a great brand. So, the next step is becoming successful. We want to win hockey games, we want to win a championship. But, we ask ourselves at what cost? Do we cheat to win? The answer is no. Do we tamper and break rules? No. Do we bankrupt the team to win? Of course we don't. So we ask ourselves how we become significant and become a dominant team. The answer is that we have to outwork everyone in recruiting, in the attention we pay our players, in development. We are doing everything we can to win next year."
Q - What do you expect from your veteran players this fall?
BP - "We expect the same thing from them as we do from our first year players. We expect them to be in great physical condition, to have a clear direction in their minds about the type of player they want to be, and we expect them to follow our code or conduct and our rules and regulations. All our players are expected to be their best."
Q - Is there excitment in Neepawa about The Natives?
BP - "People here are pretty grounded people. They are intelligent and they know what a good program looks like. We have a very respectful and decent community. I would say they show their excitement in many ways. The word on the street is great. People are very positive and excited. But, they are also taking a hands on approach. We have had several new families come forth to billet. We actually are in great shape in that area right now. That is probably the best sign of people's feelings. When people open up their homes to your organization, that is when you know they are happy."
Q- How are things on the trade front? Any new developments?
BP - "No, it has been quiet."
Q - Do you like the way the team is currently sitting?
BP - "I do. We have great depth in all three positions, we have size, we have players who have won. We have leadership. I really like where we are at."
Q- Any other signings expected?
BP - "We have a big one that is close to being announced."
Q - How big?
BP - "Off the charts. We will know in the next week or so. It is as big as it gets."
Q - Is it a trade, or is it a recruit?
BP - "It is a signing and its very close to happening but not guaranteed. It is for a player who will change the landscape of our program and brand."
Q - Will there be an announcement?
BP - Absolutely. People can check Neepawanatives.com for all that news.
Q - Anything else Coach?
BP - "I just want to thank all the people who continually check our site and reference it on other blogs, message boards and who keep our brand and name out there. Whether it is one of our fans being positive or even rival fans trying to stir things up, every time they come to our site or talk about us on other sites, it really helps build our brand. We thank them for all they do to make us visible and relevant. With all the rivalries in sport, not everyone is going to love us. But, we thank them for all of the publicity and brand awareness they provide."
|
