On Sunday, Ryan Howse was a guest coach for the Prince George Spruce Kings, running the bench for Team White in the Spruce Kings Top Prospects Game.
For now, Howse is just a scout for the B.C. Hockey League team.
But by the end of the month we'll probably know if the former Calgary Flames forward prospect will take on a more permanent position coaching the Spruce Kings, or if another junior team snaps him up.
Howse is rumoured to be the replacement for assistant coach Jason Garneau, who has moved to Vancouver Island. Kings general manager Mike Hawes has said he intends to fill the vacancy Garneau left behind. That person would join head coach Chad van Diemen and assistant coach Adam Maglio, both heading into their second season with the Spruce Kings.
"I haven't talked to them about anything," said Howse. "I'd have to think about it. There's some other (opportunities) out there and some other things I'm considering, but I'm sure you'll find out within the next couple weeks what's going to happen with me.
"I would love to stay in Prince George, I've built so many relationships and connections here and taught so many kids here I don't just want to up and leave and go take work somewhere else. I'm proud of where I'm from and I want to develop the Prince George kids. I've always been a Prince George boy and I'd like to stay here too."
During a successful four-season WHL career as a sniper with the Chilliwack Bruins, Howse scored 140 goals in 262 games. The Flames picked him in the third round of the 2009 draft, 74th overall. But after two seasons in the AHL with the Abbotsford Heat, Howse's promising career in the pro ranks was cut short in September 2013 when he realized his heart was no longer in the game and he decided not to report to the Flames' rookie camp.
He returned to his home in Prince George, got into coaching, and soon discovered it satisfied his hockey soul. He started with the bantam Tier 2 team and worked his way up to the top minor hockey team in the city, the midget Tier 1 Coast Inn of the North Cougars. This past season, he guided the Cougars all the way to the provincial championship banner.
"I'm happy again, and that was the biggest thing, I wasn't happy playing," said Howse, who turns 25 in July. "My emotions and passion for the game of hockey just was not there any more. It got beaten out of me and it sucked. And now, I think I've found it again. Ninety per cent of the time, I'm smiling at the rink. I'm very happy with what I'm doing now and loving it and hopefully I can keep getting better at it.
"It is what it is with me and Calgary and I'll just keep it between us and them, but I just didn't enjoy it. Now, with every kid I teach, I make sure they're enjoying what they do and they love it and that's how I build my relationships with the kids. It all comes down to pushing kids to the next level the proper way."
From start to finish, the Tier 1 Cougars, coached by Howse, Justin Fillion and Mac Allen, were the dominant team in the province. They won seven tournaments, including the prestigious Richmond International, then beat the three-time defending champions, Kelowna, 4-2 in the provincial final.
"Those kids were a pleasure to work with all year and I wish nothing but the best for them," said Howse. "They were my favourite group, for sure, and we've got some great memories from this season."
Eight of Howse's players from the Tier 1 Cougars - goalies Marcus Allen and Jake Sweet; defencemen Carl Ewert and Brennan Malgunas; and forwards James Gordon, Rob Raju, Craig MacDonald and Braeden Young - played in Sunday's Top Prospects Game, among 42 players selected from a list of 105 who signed up for the three-day camp.
"I thought all of them did really well and that's our job to prepare them during the season," said Howse. "To come out here and see how they've grown over the past year and see where they are now as compared to last year, I think they've made big strides and some of them have a pretty bright future ahead of them."
