While many minor sports coaches may push their players to win at all cost, a local novice hockey coach inspired the players in many ways that could impact the rest of their lives –as players and as citizens.
At just seven and eight years of age, players of Stettler Storm Killer Bees novice hockey learned many lessons in sports and life in many special ways under the inspirational leadership of coach Byron Geddes.
“One of the key points I promoted over the season was that the most important person on my team is my teammate and to focus players on the team, not just individual players.” said Geddes, who has been coaching minor hockey for about 20 years.
“Everyone on the team is equal and the purpose of minor hockey is fair play and to have fun.”
“In my mind, an assist is more important than a goal – to be a play maker.”
Players were treated like stars by Geddes and his co-coaches Jeff Lee and Dustyn Rairdan, general manager Kim Salmon and equipment manager Tanya Tulan.
“One of the few concepts you need to instill in a team is camaraderie and attitude, and if you have those two ingredients, you can accomplish anything as a team and an individual,” said Geddes.
“We backed it up over the season with a record of 17 wins, three losses and three ties, and we won the Delburne tournament.”
“Everyone got along with each other, players, coaches, parents and grandparents, and community.”
“Everything we did as a team had a purpose.”
Over the season, he produced a weekly newsletter – The Buzz – that chronicled the season, profiled individual players, featured players’ special activities with family, coaches’ messages and other special hockey and sports news.
“Incentives were developed to recognize players with the most improvement during the game, not just all the best players,” said Geddes.
Starting the season, each player signed a player’s pledge to follow the team’s philosophy in spirit and in behavior.
“We, as coaches, expect full effort, and in turn will give total commitment as coaches, and remember all the players are first-round draft picks and will be treated equally and fairly,” said Geddes, reflecting the coaches’ pledge to the players.
“Stettler Storm Killer Bees’ mission is to be the team of choice for players, their parents and the community of Stettler,” describes the mission statement of the team.
“To achieve this, there must be a united dedication to hard work, honesty and an uncompromising commitment to excellence while providing an environment that fosters enjoyable, energetic learning, athletic and personal development.”
A players’ pledge and a weekly newsletter is something few minor sports teams have.
“This is usually done only at the junior hockey level,” said Geddes, who has been active on the executive of the Stettler Lightning of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League for several years.
Like teaching, good coaching in any sport at any level is required to help equip the players – students to progress to the next stage.
“It was a special year for the Killer Bees players and coaches,” said Geddes.
“We saw game improvement constantly throughout the season and we are sure any of our players is ready to move up to the next level.”
Coaches, players and parents will likely agree that the season was truly successful because the goals set for the season were achieved and surpassed.