Welcome to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League New Bench Bosses series. This series is focused on new coaches entering the league and we wrap it up with Geordie Wudrick of the Creston Valley Thunder Cats.
Wudrick is a former Los Angeles Kings draft pick, who played in the Western Hockey League (349 GP – 233 PTS), USPORTS with the University of New Brunswick and UBC, and professionally in the ECHL, SPHL, Europe and the Australia Ice Hockey League. Last season Wudrick was an assistant coach with the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires.
KIJHL: How will your experience with the Millionaires help you in your first full season as a head coach?
GW: Coming from the SJHL, I was able to see things at a fairly high level. I was very fortunate to work under veteran coach Doug Johnson, who is very strong with his systems and structure along with the way he produces good, character players. Working as his assistant coach, that exposed me day-to-day procedures on how to handle the players – the ups and downs of a season. It was awesome to learn from him and be able to help out at the SJHL level. I think we can bring a lot of things that we were doing in the SJHL to our team.
KIJHL: What were some big learning moments with Melville that you will lean on that will help you this season?
GW: As a player, I was always an offensive guy and enjoyed teaching puck skills and skating. One of the biggest things was learning the defensive side – team systems and structure, especially playing an aggressive style of defence. That is something we want to translate to our team. The other big things too were learning how to deal with the ebbs and flows of a season. When things are going well, not getting too high on yourself, still preaching hard work. Things that you can do to help guys get out of a funk.
KIJHL: What is your coaching style in terms of how you will want your team to play?
GW: We want our team to play fast, aggressive and generate offence, but we’re going to play really tight defence. We’re going to have to score by committee and I like having four lines of forwards playing heavy minutes. We’re going to generate offence from being smart defensively and aggressive on the ice.
KIJHL: What do you enjoy about coaching?
GW: I’ve always liked being in the dressing room and around the rink. I’ve loved the game since I was a kid. It’s the development of players and getting to work with young athletes that are trying to achieve the same things I was fortunate and lucky enough to be able to achieve. If I can pass on any information, any first-hand knowledge from some of my playing experience, and my bit of coaching, then that’s what I’m hoping to see is kids do well. I want to see these young teenagers turn into men and become successful people in our society.
KIJHL: Are you finding with your background, they are listening carefully to what you have to say?
GW: I’ve been really happy with how our first few ice times have gone. Even starting with the chats I’ve had with the players in the summer, and throughout camp, I think that the players respect me, but I also because I respect them. I’m firm and tough with them in some of the things I believe in, but it’s mostly that I’m wanting them to be good people and hard working guys. I think they are respecting that, and that big change of culture. I have appreciated how hard everyone has been working.
KIJHL: Do you have a coach who made such an impact on you that you lean on when needed for advice? Why is that person so important?
GW: I’ve got a few. The one that I would lean on the most would be my dad, who was one of my main coaches growing up until I started midget. I talk to him every day and trust his opinion, his knowledge. He’s also just a good guy for me to lean on when I’ve got a lot going on.
Calgary Flames head coach Ryan Huska was probably the best coach I had throughout my career with the Kelowna Rockets. I was lucky enough to get to chat with him during my High Performance 1 course as he was one of the presenters. He gave me lots of knowledge to pass on to the guys and it was just great talking to him. Another I draw from that I had during my time with the University of New Brunswick is Gardner McDougall (now coaching the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats). I use a lot of tactics and things that he preaches. (Note: McDougall is an honoured member of the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 2021. Among his accomplishments is being the winningest coach in University of New Brunswick history, the first coach in Atlantic University Sport history to win over 500 games, since 2000, he led the UNB Reds Men’s Hockey Team to win 10 AUS and seven National Championships and he coached AUS World University Games World Championships (Trentino, Italy – 2013).)
KIJHL: What is your favourite hockey moment as a player or coach?
GW: It was cool to get drafted and play in NHL camps as a stepping stone towards your ultimate dream as a kid. I had good experiences there. I think playing for Team Canada in U18 was probably one of my favourite memories. When you look back at things, it’s the championships you win and some of the things you were able to accomplish as a team with some really close guys. In 2012, I won the AUS Conference Championship with the University of New Brunswick, then in 2013 the Allan Cup with the Bentley Generals. My other favourite was in 2015 winning the Goodall Cup national championship with the Newcastle North Stars in Australia.
KIJHL: Away from the rink, what are things you enjoy doing?
GW: As of right now, I’m at the rink all the time. I’ve been a bit of a rink rat my whole life. When I’m back home in Kelowna or when I was through the summer, I like being by the lake on the water. I like going hiking. If you can be by the water or in the mountains, I always find that calming for me. It’s a good way to regenerate the batteries. I also enjoy hanging out with family members and friends.
