The La Ronge Ice Wolves missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. This season the team is gunning for the top and a coach from Churchbridge is helping them get there.
Although coach Kevin Kaminski does not take all the credit for the team’s turnaround, the SJHL figured his impact was important enough to award him the Canalta Hotels Coach of the Year Award for the 2019-20 season.
The SJHL described how “Kaminski returned to his native Saskatchewan last summer after spending the last three decades south of the border, first as a player at various professional levels, including 139 games in the National Hockey League, and then as a coach beginning as an assistant to Mike Babcock with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in 2000-01.”
Speaking about the turnaround, Kaminski says, “I keep seeing the players investing into the game plan, the foundation. I told them after the game [to end the season] ‘that’s one hell of a team over there in Flin Flon and I can’t tell you guys how proud I am with our turnaround.
The team earned 46 more points than last year. In the past three seasons the Ice Wolves had a combined 28 wins; this season alone they have 33 wins.
“I’m proud but I still think we can be better. That’s the perfectionist in me. We were 0-5 to start the season, we could have been 4-1 but we found ways to lose. Then we started finding ways to win and loved the hunger to win; that’s what it’s all about.”
He continued, “We’ve gone through injuries and suspensions. Everyone we’ve put in has stepped up and done one heck of a job to fill that role; that’s what winning teams do.”
Speaking about his favourite team, the New York Islanders, he made the point that stars on championship teams, like Mike Bossy, score a lot of important goals, but third and fourth line guys like Butch Goring played equally as big of a role in their team’s playoff success.
The top of the SJHL standing was very close in the regular season.
After the dust settled, the Ice Wolves found they will now play the Yorkton Terriers in the first round of playoffs.
“I have to give a lot of credit to the players and the community. A lot of players live with billet families who give help all the time. Whenever there is a promotion or event happening, there is help available.”
Last game against Flin Flon, La Ronge almost sold out with around 1,000 spectators attending.
Cooper the mascot made a return appearance and it was an electrifying night.
Coach of the Year is a big title, but Kaminski is focused on the playoffs. He said, “It’s so weird because a couple of security guards from Flin Flon came up to say congratulations after the game. It’s weird because I’m not even thinking of the coaching award, I’m thinking they were approaching me about the playoffs.”
“I wake up and my mind is just hockey, hockey, hockey, trying to just make it a little bit better for the players, community, coaching staff, whoever; just to have that fun.”
Coach of the Year Kevin Kaminski and the playoff-bound Ice Wolves are full of momentum at the right time of the season, right before playoffs.
“It’s a challenge but the boys rose to every challenge we’ve had this year. I know they’ll be mentally and physically ready to go…Hockey is back in La Ronge and now it’s the most fun time of the year”, said Kaminski.