Conservative Student News

photo credit collegesportingnews.com

So, Anthony, what made you decide to coach hockey after college?
I had played semi-pros in a Holland Elite League and for the Amsterdam Tijgers. I had been playing hockey for 20 years and I just decided that I wasn’t going to continue playing, but I wanted to give back to the game of hockey. I get so much back from it. When you tell a young player to try this or try that, and next time they’re out there they do it…and you see them improving. I probably play more through them by being their coach and by seeing them grow into young men.

At St. Thomas you played all four years, making All-Conference and All-American. Was there anything you had to give up, socially or otherwise, to do this?

Sometimes I ask myself, “Why didn’t I play football?” I wish I would have given it a chance. But then I always come back to the realization that I would never have been able to achieve what I did in hockey if I had done something else. There’s a big hockey tradition at St. Thomas and there are some things you need to give up when you’re living up to that tradition. It’s an honor to play on the team—it’s not just given to you—you have to be 100 percent. Looking back, I wish I would have sacrificed even more. Four years is really not a lot when you look at it in the grand scheme of life.

You’re quite an athletic guy—was there an athlete who inspired you throughout your career?

Wow, there’s so many great athletes that work so hard and aren’t recognized. But if I had to pick, I’d say Michael Jordan. I always wanted to be the go-to person in the last two minutes of the game. If you look at MJ, in the last couple minutes of a basketball game, he’s going to make it happen…you want the ball to be in his hands. He’s just a master of the court.

So do you plan to continue coaching?

Absolutely. Whatever little it is that I can give back to the game, I will. At one of our last practices, I told the parents: “I might be even more intense out there than your kids,” and I coach that way too—If I’m not giving you feedback, there’s a problem.

It sounds like this must be really rewarding for you.

Right now I’m an Assistant Coach for the Highland Bantam A’s. I love to win, but I’ve realized that there another side to it too. There’s the thrill of victory, but it’s even better to see someone develop from beginning to end: to see a kid that has potential and to provide guidance, and before both of you know it, he’s developed into a young man. One of the most rewarding things is to have a parent come up to you and tell you, “I don’t know what you said or did, but when my kid came home from hockey last night, but he was so happy.” When you hear it from the parents, you know you’re making a difference.

What do you think about the new helmet mandate for coaches at practices?

I understand the safeness and liability concerns that a program, association or rink might have. On the other hand, I say, let’s make it the coach’s choice—have them sign off on it. It doesn’t bother me personally—I’ve had to wear a helmet my whole life—but I can see how some people don’t like it.

Who was your all-time favorite hockey coach, and why?

That’s a hard question because there were so many great coaches…but if I had to pick, there’s really three coaches that stand out. First, Terry Skrypek, the St. Thomas Men’s Hockey coach. He stands out for the way he made me look at the game in a different way, taught me to slow down. I think he brought me from almost not playing college hockey to the player I turned into. Second, Brian—“The Colonial—Curran,” who coached the Quad City Mallards. He brought me from being a college-level player to playing in the semi-pros. He really just brought me under his wing and guided me through the first months of his professional career. Coincidentally, he was recently named The United Hockey League Coach of the Year.

And, last but not least would be my dad. He’s been with me ever since I started playing hockey at age four. He was always critical even when the other coaches would go easy. He’d have little signs that he’d hold up in the stands that would say “Pick it up!” or “Keep going!” No matter what coaches were on my team, he was always my real coach.

Wow, sounds like Tiger Woods and his dad.

Yeah, just like T.W. Overall, I think the best coaches are the ones that can tell you things you don’t want to hear and aren’t afraid to hurt your feelings…and reward you for the good things.