For Jason Becker, it was an easy decision to return as assistant coach with the Prince George Cougars.
"I want to be in Prince George for another year," said Becker. "I didn't get a lot of time to work with Mark [Holick, who replaced Dean Clark as head coach in January] and I feel getting the chance to work with him for a year will not only be a benefit to the Cougars, but to myself. I liked his ideas. I liked what he was bringing to the team and I'm just looking forward to getting a full year with him now."
Becker extended his contract with the Cougars for the 2013-14 Western Hockey League season with an option to stay with the team he joined in December 2009 for the 2014-15 season. But after getting a taste of being the head man behind the bench with Team Pacific at the 2013 World U17 Hockey Challenge, Becker said he's excited to one day coach a WHL team himself.
The 39-year-old said after three seasons working with Clark and now with Holick he's had the opportunity to absorb many coaching strategies and ideas.
"It's definitely a goal of mine to be a head coach," said Becker. "I think with most jobs you have to bide your time. Every day that I come to the rink I learn something new. Getting the chance to be the head coach with Team Pacific was a great opportunity for myself, not only to be a head coach and take control of the team, but just to be the go to guy."
Becker stepped up as head coach for one game last season after Clark was fired but before Holick arrived to take the reigns of the team. He has an 0-1 record as WHL head coach after the Cougars fell to the Prince Albert Raiders.
Becker will continue to lead the Cougars' defensive corps next season. He said Holick has also told him he could handle one of the Cougars' specialty teams, either the penalty kill or the power play.
"I'm working on making that decision right now," said Becker. "I like the challenge of both of them. With the power play, obviously you get the chance to be creative with offensively gifted players, while with the penalty kill you have players who are skilled in a different way, they understand the position they need to be in in the defensive zone and are the courageous ones in getting in front of the shots to block them paying a small price."
Last year, the Cougars' special teams were near or at the bottom of the WHL.
"Anytime you're out of the Top 10 in special teams it's never a good thing," said Becker.
In other Cougar news, the team released Latvian 1994-born defenceman Rinalds Rosinskis, freeing up a roster spot prior to the July 3 import draft. Cougars general manager Dallas Thompson said he'd like to pick up a forward and a defenceman in the import draft.
