Interview with Tri-City Storm Asst Coach Eric Fink

Please give the readers a little background information on yourself.

My name is Eric Fink and I am an Assistant Coach for the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL).  This is my ninth year as a hockey coach and second year in Tri-City and the USHL.  Prior to Tri-City, I was an Assistant in the North American Hockey League in Owatonna, MN with the Owatonna Express.  I also spent one year at Augsburg College (NCAA Division III) and four years with the Twin Cities Northern Lights (Junior B, Minnesota Junior Hockey League).

What are the 3 biggest things you look for in a player (on ice) when recruiting for your junior team?

There are a lot of factors that come into play when you are evaluating a player and each team is a little different depending upon the style of there play.  In Tri-City, we put an emphasis on these three things. 

1.  Competitiveness - There are many skilled players, but many lack the competitiveness and drive to compete night after night and bring the same intensity level.  Blocking shots, finishing your checks, refusing to lose, are qualities that fit into this category.  We aren't looking for guys who are willing to do these things, we are looking for guys who are eager to do these things.  This is the most important aspect that we look for and the players that we have that are the most successful are our most competitive.

2.  Skill - A lot of times players don't understand the guys at higher levels don't always do something that they can't, they just do everything a little better.  Our guys skate a little faster, shoot a little harder and more accurately, handle the puck a little better, and compete a little harder then guys at lower levels.  It's rarely a big secret, you need to do the ordinary things better then everyone else.

3.  Character - Being and elite level athlete takes a sacrifice that not all people can commit to.  The very best players practice with a purpose every day, eat right, work out hard  when the coaching staff isn't around.  You can include school, being a good person and teammate, and making smart life decisions in this category as well. 

What are the 3 biggest things you look for in a player off of the ice?

1.  Academics - Given our demanding schedule, we need guys who are self-motivated academically.  Not only do they need to perform well but also be able to manage their time well enough to make up class work that they might miss in a timely fashion.

2.  Persistence -  You can tell a lot about an athlete by how persistent they are towards finding solutions.  If a person takes short cuts or quits easy, this usually translates to the ice in some form.

3.  Good People - Plain and simple.  Some guys are always looking for loop holes to team rules then arguing that there wasn't a rule for it.  Good people make decisions based off of their values.  These players are always the coaches favorites.  

Can you give us some insight into the recruiting process for your junior team? Is it simply holding tryouts or do you actively seek out players?

We have a head scout who is in charge of our scouting.  He has a staff that is spread out throughout North American.  They attend games and input all the information into a software program called Rink Net.  This information is then visible to our Head Coach/General Manger.  He checks it daily for reports on players and then we speak with people in that area that we might know to gather more information on the athlete.  The USHL holds two league drafts in May which are available online for all to view live; a Futures draft (younger players) and the Entry draft (both older and younger players).  After the draft, teams are allowed to contact players that were not drafted to attend their tryout camp.  The vetrans, drafted players, and undrafted players then gather for the camp.  The team is selected at this tryout.

What should high school/midget players do to help get noticed by junior teams?

Be a good player.  Practice hard and perform well every time you step on the ice.  If you are inconsistent, your odds of playing at a higher level decrease.  Every scout dreams of finding that hidden player that nobody else knows about so everyone is always trying to make that happen. And then, if you find that you have not received the attention that you deserve as a player, then ask your coach to help you.  With information so easy to access with the internet and email, it's very easy to contact a mass amount of people with just a few clicks. 

What is your biggest advice for someone who loves hockey and is looking to dive in and make their living in hockey?

If you work hard, are a good person, and worry less about moving yourself up and more about helping others move up.   Generally, things will go your way.  I'm sure you'll have your share of tough times, but if you learn from them, you're setting yourself up for the future.

What made you want to be a coach?

I had great coaches growing up and I got that image of myself doing that at a young age.  I started drawing plays and evaluating things when I was very young to make up for a lack of skill.  When not having skill caught up to me, I was fortunate to get an opportunity to give coaching a try and I was addicted immediately.

How does a coach improve their skills?

I guess I'm not sure how others do it but we try to learn as much as we can from other teams.  Whether we see something in the USHL that other teams are doing, the NCAA, Midget, NHL, etc.  It doesn't matter, we gather as much information as we can and we use it if possible.  If not, we store it away for when it might be a better fit.

I like to read a lot.  There are lots of great books that have great ideas to get you thinking about things in a different way.  They don't have to be just hockey either.  I've stolen drills from a soccer book before and I've heard of others using basketball set plays on the Power Play as well.  You'd be surprised. I highly recommend "The Talent Code" by Daniel Coyle.  If you have a book recommendation...please email me.  I am always looking. 

Lastly, we just talk to others and ask.  If we see something we like, we try to get in touch with someone that knows how to do it and we ask.  More often then not, they are very willing to share the concepts behind it.   

What are the 3 most important things to do to ensure you're running effective practices?

Be organized - Communicate clearly - Correct mistakes right away - Make it fun

Have a plan.  Know how much time you have on the ice, how many pucks you'll have, have water ready, etc.  Make sure all your assistants are aware of the plan so that no time is wasted.  Communicate with the players so that they understand exactly what is expected of them.  Everyone learns differently, so try to take that into account as you are communicating.  Correct mistakes that you see players making right away.  Its frustrating to see a youth team on the ice doing a drill then four coaches in the corner talking about something or watching.  Players need immediate feedback.  Lastly, make it fun.

Is there anything you want to promote, plug, or have our readers take a look at? (Website link, facebook, etc...)

The United States Hockey League website is www.ushl.com and it has great information on our league and what it can offer you as a student-athlete.  Our team website is www.stormhockey.com and they do a fantastic job keeping it updated with video, interviews, articles, etc.  Lastly, if anyone has any handouts, coaching articles, articles that our players would learn from, or books that I should read.  Please email me eric@stormhockey.com

New Interview With Des Moines Buccaneers Coach Regg Simon

Coach Simon,

Thank you for taking the time give some insight to all the coaches and players reading the articles at Boston Hockey Education.

Please give the readers a little background information on yourself.

Born & raised in Elk River, Minnesota. Grew up playing there. Played high school hockey there. Played two years in the USHL for Des Moines after high school. Got a scholarship to University of Alaska Anchorage out of Des Moines. Finished playing in 2001 for UAA. Got into coaching in 2002-03 in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm. Worked ½ year there as assistant coach and ½ year as interim head coach. Came to Des Moines as assistant coach in 2003-04 and held that position until 2005. Took over as Head Coach & General Manager until 2008. Left for two years to go back to UAA as assistant coach. Came back to Des Moines this past August as Head Coach & GM again.

What are the 3 biggest things you look for in a player (on ice) when recruiting for your junior team?

Hockey sense, skill and competitiveness.

What are the 3 biggest things you look for in a player off of the ice?

Character, desire and manners.

Can you give us some insight into the recruiting process for your junior team? Is it simply holding tryouts or do you actively seek out players?

The USHL has a draft in May – so we scout players throughout the season and build a draft list from that. During the season we actively look for free agents (players not on USHL lists) and if we think they are good enough we’ll bring them on to our club.

What should high school/midget players do to help get noticed by junior teams?

Stay out of trouble off the ice. Do well in school. Play hard every night because they never know who is in the stands. Be the best at what you are: You don’t have to have 50 points as a defenseman to get to junior or pro hockey. If you are a great defensive defenseman – be the best at it. If you’re a great 3^rd line checking wing and penalty killer – be the best at it. You don’t have to get 100 points to get to higher levels of hockey. There’s just as many “role” spots on a team as there is “skill” spots when you build a team.

Do you try to coach the mental aspect of hockey? If so, what are some tips in doing so?

Yes. We try to teach the players how to properly prepare for games and to do visualization to picture themselves having success.

What did you do during your playing days to set you apart from the competition?

I competed very hard, was a good penalty killer and leader.

What is your biggest advice for someone who loves hockey and is looking to dive in and make their living in a hockey related business?

You have to be passionate about it and if you are with a woman or partner they better know what they’re getting into as well. Most people that work in hockey are under-paid and over-worked – but we all have fun doing it. That’s why you need to be passionate about it.

What made you want to be a coach?

I always understood the game and was a smart player even though I wasn’t the most talented player. I felt I’d be able to take the lessons I learned as a player and teach them to young men and help them grow and mature as a person and player.

How does a coach improve their skills?

By talking a lot of hockey with other coaches, watching games and how other teams play. There are no original ideas in hockey. We all steal from each other and make it our own.

Who was your most influential coach? Why?

Bob Ferguson who is now an assistant GM with the Anaheim Ducks. He was a hard-nosed coach but you knew he cared about you as well – which made all of his players want to go through a brick wall for him and the team.

What are 3 things you look for when hiring an asst coach?

Loyalty. Character. Personality.

What are the 3 most important things to do to ensure you're running effective practices?

Skill development built into each drill. Players are getting the proper work-to-rest ration so conditioning is built into each drill. Be prepared and have a basic plan as to what you want your team to achieve that day (defensive concepts, offensive zone play, transition game, ect.).

What are some major mistakes you see coaches making?

Not enough skill development built into practices and practicing systems too much. Players do need to learn systems – but if a kid can’t skate or handle a puck – how is he going to make a play within that system to help you win a game? Youth coaches especially try to win too much – and they get pressure from parents to do that. I’d rather see a youth coach skill his team to death and be a .500 hundred team than a 60-10 team that plays great systems with players that have no creativity. What’s more gratifying – sending 10 guys to the USHL 5 years from now because you developed their skills or winning 60 games as a peewee or bantam but none of your kids play at a higher level because they lacked skill development at a crucial point in their careers? Youth coaches – and parents – need to recognize and see the big picture with this. It’s not how good little Johnny is at 12 years old – it’s should be about how good can we get little Johnny to be when he’s 22 years old. You can’t jump across the whole creek. You need to hop from stone to stone to get the other side. Unfortunately, too many times players, parents and coaches think they can get to the other side without going through the logical process.

Is there anything you want to promote, plug, or have our readers take a look at? (Website link, facebook, etc...)

www.bucshockey.com and www.ushl.com

Thanks Coach.