The first challenge was joining a WHL team that is still growing into their skin, after five years as an NHL assistant coach with the Calgary Flames.
“It’s a big change as far as the players you’re dealing with. They’re a lot older, a lot more mature, there’s not much teaching at the NHL level,” said Lethbridge Hurricanes’ head coach and general manager Rich Preston.
“So in that respect, you see the players improve and get bigger and stronger.”
“Usually, NHL players, they’re pretty big. When you have them, that’s what they’re going to be, 6’1, 190 pounds. They’re going to be 6’1, 190 pounds five years from now but these junior kids, you get them at 15, 16, from one year to the next you might grow three inches and gain 20 pounds.”
“That’s one thing you don’t see at the NHL level.”
So far there have been ups and downs. RW Carter Ashton signed an NHL entry level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightening in early October; the first time in Hurricanes’ history that players were drafted in the first round for two consecutive seasons.
“It just shows that our scouts drafted well. I mean, sometimes it’s hard to draft a 15 year old in the junior draft because you never know if he’s going to grow six inches or if he’s going to mature, get better. It’s a tough art, at that level.”
“But if you draft a player and he grows and matures and suddenly he’s an NHL first round draft pick then you know you’ve done a good job drafting them and you know you’ve done a good job coaching them.”
That was the up.
The challenge after was the 0-6 losing streak before the home opener. Surely, the hunger to win ran deep when such a streak screeched along ice like claws down a chalkboard, making October 10 a well-embraced game.
“The key to a successful team is you don’t focus on the wins and losses; you focus on improving as an individual and as a team daily.” Preston said.
“It’s a great challenge to win, and it’s a great challenge to make players better. It’s a great challenge to make your organization better. It’s a great challenge, but it’s a fun challenge.”