Conservative Student News

Tim Winters is a 1985 graduate of St. Thomas, where he played on the Men’s Hockey Team. He now coaches the Rosemount PeeWee A Team.

Who inspired you most during your time playing hockey at St. Thomas?
Probably my cousin Les Auge who was an All American at the U of M and was one of the last guys cut from the 1980 Olympic Team. He was playing pro hockey during my college career.

What made you decide to go into coaching hockey after playing at St. Thomas?
Love for the game. I also like the teaching aspect of coaching. I considered being a teacher. It is fun to watch them develop their skills and knowledge of the game. I had to quit playing hockey in college due to an injury. I didn’t want to be completely away from the game, and coaching was the next best thing. I wanted to share my positive experiences and knowledge with the kids so they could experience the great times and friendships I had during my playing days.

How long have you been coaching, and what teams are you currently coaching?
I coached Bantam level for four years after I graduated from St. Thomas in 1985. I took a few years off and started coaching again in 1995 when my oldest son started in Mites. I have coached at all the levels through Bantams in the Rosemount Area Hockey Association. This year, I am coaching with the PeeWee A team and am helping out with the Mini-Mites now that my fourth son is starting to play.

What athlete do you most admire?
Mark Messier. I admire the longevity of his career and leadership he provided on all the teams he played for. He was a mentor to the younger players and set a great example on how to play the game with his strong work ethic.

Is there anything you had to give up in order to play hockey all four years at St. Thomas?
I really didn’t have anything to give up. I decided to play at St. Thomas two weeks before school started after the coach came to my house for a visit. I had some other offers and scholarships from other schools I turned down. I had a major knee injury in high school and had my knee reconstructed. So I was aware of the fact that my playing days could be numbered and thought St. Thomas was a great place to continue playing, but more importantly it was the right school to get a great education. I got hurt playing in the beginning of my sophomore year, was red-shirted that year and finished playing junior hockey. I ended up having surgery again and could never get medical clearance to play again.

Any regrets?
Not really, I still was able to stay in school and get a great education. My only regret might be that I was not able to play with my friends on the team and being part of some very good teams from 1982 to 1985.

What do you think about Title IX?
I don’t have a problem with the law as it pertains to the boys and girls program at the primary education levels (K-12). However, when it comes to men’s and women’s programs at the secondary education level, I don’t view it as an equality issue based upon gender. I feel funds should be allocated based upon the revenue generated and level of interest by the student body for a particular program. I don’t feel funds should be reduced in programs that are generating revenue and are well-attended events by the students in both attendance and participation.

Who is your favorite coach of all time?
Pro: Jacques Lemaire. I like his style of play. Players need to be disciplined and play “team hockey.” Players must be able to play both the offensive and defensive aspects of the game.

During my playing career: My Midget coach, Fred Brown, who was from Canada and played pro hockey. He told me he was going teach me the “game of hockey” and how it should be played. He was right, and that year we won the state tournament for that level.