Welcome to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League New Bench Bosses series. This series highlights each new league coach and next is Kyle Evans with the Chase Heat.
Last season was Evans’ first as a head coach at the junior level guiding the Campbell River Storm to a first overall finish in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League with 36 wins in 48 games. Previously he was an assistant coach in the league and spent part of the 2021-22 season with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals.
KIJHL: What aspects of last season with Campbell River will you lean on for success?
KE: I think the way we did things in terms of professionalism and the schedule, getting to run things the way that I wanted to, it was a great learning experience. It really helped me understand how to run that day-to-day, manage the players. There are some things I need to learn, some things I need to be better at. That’s just part of the journey.
KIJHL: In what areas do you feel you are a better coach?
KE: Communicating with the players. I’m a younger guy so I think I am pretty good with that. It’s understanding at that level, the type of communication the guys need and knowing with the players when to jump in and help – when to give them their space and let them do their thing. It’s also understanding how to communicate with management. There are lots of ways where communication is a big take away.
KIJHL: Since you started coaching, is there one particular season that has been key to you in terms of the amount you learned?
KE: Every stop along the way so far has had its own ups and downs – its own lessons. When I was with the North Island Silvertips, we weren’t really a strong team, so it was understanding how to lose and keep guys motivated throughout those tough times.
Last year with Campbell River, we had a strong team, we won a lot of hockey games. It’s understanding how to keep guys grounded and focused – on point as we roll through the season.
In other years with Cowichan, in the BCHL, it was great to see how those players who are going to Division 1 and have scholarships, conduct themselves – to see how they train, and see the little details. The work behind the scenes that the fans don’t see. How we can help them? There are always things that you can learn at every level. Each one of those spots has helped me round into the coach that I’ve become and trying to get myself to be.
KIJHL: What is your coaching style in terms of how you want the team to play?
KE: A lot of that is going to be based on the roster you have and the players coming back. With our group this year, I’m expecting us to be a very offensively minded team. We’ve got a lot of skill on our backend, a lot of high-end prospects up front, so I’m hoping we’re going to be a team that plays with a lot of pace, skill and frankly I want us to be tough to play against. I don’t expect guys to be going out there and blowing guys up all the time. If we can have a team that is relentless to get that puck back, in my eyes that’s what a tough team to play against is.
I’m a player’s coach and have experience dealing with this age group – trying to relate to them a little bit more. I like to be pretty open and honest and have conversations with players and have them feel like they are a part of it as opposed to being dictated to. It’s about player development, working with these guys and helping them get to where they want to go.
KIJHL: What do you like about the pieces in place on this roster already in terms of how you want to coach?
KE: In terms of the returning players, we’ve got a few really good defenceman coming back as 19-year-olds. I like to have a team that the defenceman can jump into the rush, activate in the offensive zone a little bit and I think that we’re going to have the guys back there to do that.
I was very impressed with what I saw in camp from these guys and I expect a bunch of players back there to have a pretty big year for us. In terms of offensive talent, we have a good number of 20-year-old vets and I expect all of them to have pretty big years with the style change. I think that is really going to play into their strengths and let them showcase their talent. If we’re able to integrate those guys throughout the lineup, and let them utilize their strengths, some of those kids can have a big year as well.
One of the big things I was talking to my staff about is we really like the depth and versatility we have. We’ve got a number of guys we feel that if we’ve got them playing a fourth line energy role, they would thrive, but if we get an injury, that same person can go up and play in the top six. We think they are going to be able to jump in and not really skip a beat. It’s a great place to be from a coaching perspective and I’m really excited to see how some of these guys turn out.
KIJHL: What is your favourite hockey moment as a player or coach?
KE: Usually we always point to that first win. For me it would have to be that second win. Starting the season last year with Campbell River, we had a home-and-home with the Comox Valley Glacier Kings. Both games were hard fought battles. The guys were able to pull through and win both. Just that emotion and excitement, that feeling in the dressing room after that second game, where we knew, hey these guys are going to be a good team and you just beat them twice in a row. That feeling of excitement and understanding in the group we had, that was a big moment in terms of coaching.
In terms of playing, I go back to my second year of bantam, we were in a tournament in Buffalo, New York. We were in the Gold Medal game and it went into overtime and I scored the game-winning goal. I always kind of look back on it and you remember that excitement, that feeling we are always chasing as hockey players. I was glad I was able to experience it at least once.
KIJHL: Away from the rink, what are things that you like to do?
KE: You will probably find me outside, where we lived on the Island, we got acclimated to hiking quite a bit. We (partner Lynsee) like to be in the woods as much as we can. We go fishing or spend time on the lake, which here in Chase is one of the big attractions. I try to play some hockey now and then or get involved in other sports. I’m a big golfer and try and get out a couple times a week. I’m hoping to get a few rounds in town before we kick things off. We enjoy paddle boarding, camping and spending quality time together with our dog Rundle, named after Mt. Rundle. That is where met in Banff and worked together at the Rundle Mountain Lodge.
