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It’s been said many
times in sports that valuable lessons are gained from learning both how
to win and lose graciously and Capreol Hawks Peewee # 1 coach James
Ockenden is a firm believer. A team built around a core of kids who have
played together since Novice, the Hawks have experienced both ends of
the spectrum over the past few years and Ockenden, for one, is thankful.
“I really think that
it’s all about making the kids become better players. I want them to try
hard, learn something new and have fun”, explained Ockenden of the
coaching philosophy shared amongst he and his fellow staff. Along with
assistant coaches Gerry St Cyr and Norm Legault, Ockenden notes there is
a sharing of ideas that ultimately helps the young Hawk athletes. “I
think we all take something off of each other.”
Nine of the eleven
players in this year’s lineup formed part of a very successful Capreol
team that finished second in four tournaments last year, capturing their
final event of the year and knocking off a second Hawks team in a very
close three game Division “A” NEHL Atom final last March.
Fast forward to this
year and the team with ten minor-aged players competing in the Peewee
division find themselves near the bottom of league standings looking up.
And Ockenden has no problem whatsoever with this competitive ebb and
flow.
“You don’t always need
to win” he says, emphasizing a belief that some minor hockey parents
might suggest is not nearly prevalent enough among coaches. “The year
before last, we won five games for the entire season.” Still, some late
season tournament success provided some hope that transformed into a
year to remember in 2006-07.
But as they hit the ice
this past September, Ockenden understood the challenges that lie ahead.
“We have just one second year peewee on this team and with the
introduction of body contact at this age, we knew there would be a huge
learning curve.”
“I don’t worry about
standings”, he acknowledged. “I mean we have kids who have hardly ever
played hockey before and kids who have played for years – the trick is
trying to get all of the children to fit in nicely. This is a very good
team from that standpoint.”
In the end, coaching
minor hockey will always provide those special memories, as Ockenden
recalls a discussion with an injured athlete, lying prone on the ice
during a game late last year as the coaching staff came out to have a
look at the severity of the injury.
“What’s the matter?”
asks the coach. “I got hurt” answered the player. “Where did you get
hurt?” came the next question. “Well coach, right here on the ice.”
Ockenden recalls with the fondness the laughter shared with he and his
fellow volunteers over the candid exchange.
Backstopped by
goaltender Yvon Clouthier since their infancy in the Novice category,
the Capreol Hawks # 1 blueline corps includes veterans Kyle Legault and
Kyle Wilson, 2nd year rearguard Bradley Deschesnes-Deault as
well as Grant Trayner, who played with this crew a few years back, then
toiled with another Capreol squad only to return for the fall of 2007.
Forwards Patrick
Labelle, David St Cyr and Matthew Perreault have now been teammates for
the past three years, with Frederick Godin joining in year two,
Sebastien Deschesnes-Deault added one year ago and the Hawks welcoming
newcomer Kyle Henderson to the mix for the first time this season.
Along with coaches
Ockenden, St Cyr and Legault, the Capreol staff includes trainer Rick
Clouthier, assistant trainer Laurier Labelle and team manager Louise
Perreault. The Hawks have already competed in the Sturgeon Falls
tournament earlier this year, head to Elliot Lake in late January, back
for the Capreol event in February before closing out the year with a
trek to Astorville in April.
All in all, a pretty
good season, win or lose!
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