Brandin Cote seems to be the type of coach who enjoys a challenge and he certainly got one last season by taking over the reins of the successful Red Deer Optimist Chiefs Midget AAA program.
The Chiefs got off to a slow start, playing catch up through the season and wound up missing the playoffs by three points. Cote admits it was not what he expected but he did manage to take something away from the season.
“It was my first year coaching at this level and I learned a ton, just in terms of how to interact with the kids and how to handle them and it really put the emphasis on the teaching part of it,” he said.
Over the summer he had a chance to reflect on those thoughts and what it means to not have success at any level.
“When you don’t have success you learn and if you don’t learn you’re getting worse. So we learned as a coaching staff. I learned as a coach for sure and the kids coming back this year learned as well.”
One lesson drawn from the year was the high level of intensity and commitment needed in order to win at this level of hockey.
He has about a half dozen returnees to work with this year along with a couple of players with experience arriving from other programs so almost 50% of those still with the team are familiar with the Midget AAA experience which will provide a good base to build on.
“Going forward I think we have a really good character group of kids that are willing to put in the time and the commitment to work and learn and that’s all you can ask for.”
The AMHL has become more of a balanced league over the years which makes it so important to be on your game each night out, he said. Last year Cote saw his team perform well against the higher echelon teams and not so much when on the ice with the perceived basement dwellers. A head scratcher for sure.
Of course it appears the legacy of this program seems to motivate other teams when they arrive in town.
“You have to be ready for any opponent and understand they’re going to give us their best game,” he said.” You see it at all levels. If you take teams for granted and by the team the second period comes around you’re down and it’s hard to come back.”
Cote says the spectre of the past history of the Chiefs is the elephant in the room to some degree but he feels it has been addressed with him establishing his own coaching philosophy and style so the players coming back know what is expected of them.
“ I think what’s in the past is in the past but at the same time you understand the importance the community holds with this team now and we take a lot of pride in it. The kids take a lot of pride in it. We want to do well and they want to do well.”
He is confident the seeds he planted in his first year will return a bumper crop down the road, even as early as this year. He feels the team is deeper than the squad which hit the ice last year, maybe not so much in terms of overall skill level and talent but he really likes the work ethic he has seen to this point.
He points to the goaltending to start with which includes veteran Dawson Weatherill, a draft pick of the WHL Rebels. On defence he has three players back to build around and four or five forwards returning so there is some knowledge of his program and what is required to win at this level.
“We even have some kids from the Midget AA level who had some success and are now ready to play at this level,” he said. “I’m happy with our group. It’s going to take some work like any team but I think we have as good a chance as any to be successful.”
One part of the equation is being a solid defensive team and Cote says that doesn’t mean sitting back and waiting for the other team to attack. He wants the Chiefs to possess the puck and control the situation in the attacking zone but be cognizant of their defensive responsibilities at the same time.
“If you play well defensively then you’re going to get your chances offensively and you just have to make sure you capitalize on those chances when you get them.”
Realistically the goal the team has set for themselves is to be in the top four in their division with an eye on the top two spots to gain home ice advantage in the playoff round. He says getting getting off to a good start in this league goes a long way to reaching the goal set out in front of them.
“We want to make the playoffs. That’s our goal for sure and it’s very realistic for us do that and then anything can happen.”
Sure, the team name is Optimist Chiefs but the coach firmly believes the program will get back to the lofty level of winning national titles but at the end of the day he is rooted in the belief of making these kids more than hockey champions.
“ You can win all the national championships you want and that’s great but our primary objective is to help these kids be better people and get to the next level in their individual careers.”
The Chiefs open the season on home ice against the Calgary Buffaloes on October 2nd.
