A new pilot project in the B.C. Major Midget League has led to a change behind the bench for the Cariboo Cougars when the 2013-14 hockey season gets underway.
Trevor Sprague has paced the tight space behind the Cougars bench for seven seasons but next year he's stepping upstairs so to speak, into the newly created role of general manager. The MML is trying out a general manager in two markets. In addition to the Cougars the Okanagan Rockets will also participate in the pilot program with David Michaud working as GM in Kelowna.
"They just want to see how it goes with Dave and I being the general managers for the team and helping out with building the hockey team and mentoring the coaches at the same time," said Sprague. "We won't be on the bench but we'll be doing the general manager's stuff and supporting the coaching staff moving forward."
Unfortunately for Sprague one thing won't change.
"There's no money," he laughed. "We don't get paid."
Sprague already flexed his GM muscle when he recommended Bryan MacLean, his assistant coach for the past two seasons with the Cougars, to MML officials as the right person to replace him behind the bench.
"He's done a good enough job where he can take over the Cariboo Cougars, run with it and build a program," said Sprague. "It's a good thing for Bryan to come in and be the head coach and he's pretty excited about it to build a program with what he wants."
Prior to joining the Cougars, MacLean held assistant coaching positions with the junior B Pictou Subways and the major bantam league Pictou County Crushers in Nova Scotia. The coaching bloodlines run deep in MacLean's family starting with his father who has spent years coaching in Nova Scotia and his uncle Paul, head coach of the NHL's Ottawa Senators. He also has a cousin who scouts for the Phoenix Coyotes.
In addition to family feedback, MacLean said he has absorbed a lot of Sprague's wisdom, which is why he felt it was time to take the next step towards his ultimate dream of coaching in the NHL.
"Trevor told me I could," said MacLean about coaching the Cougars. "I want to be a hockey coach and I've expressed that with Trevor a few times in sitting around and talking about the game. At some point I've got to take the step to be a head coach and he's willing to give me that opportunity and I'm really grateful that he's willing to do that."
MacLean said the biggest thing he's learned from observing Sprague during the past two season is just noticing the small details about the game.
"He does a really good job in seeing the little things that happen in the game and being able to act on those in a positive manner," said the 29-year-old.
The coaching personnel isn't the only makeover the Cougars will have next season as the player turnover will be high as several players including captain Ryan Forbes, record-setting goalie Nathan Warren, leading scorer Liam Blackburn, along with forward Braiden Epp and defenceman Stephen Penner to name a few, move into junior A hockey in the BCHL. The Cougars finished last season with a 31-8-1 record before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs against the Rockets.
MacLean said he's looking forward to creating his own team and trying to guide them towards the BCMML championship.
"We're going to get up and down the rink with a lot of gusto and be physical," said MacLean. "There's a lot of hockey in my family and it feels pretty good to follow the same path."
