Tri City IceHawk Coach Stirling Wright (Left) has his players' utmost attention during a hockey summer camp at the Bay City Ice Arena. (MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

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Tri City Icehawks Final Camp Very Competitive

August 14, 2011       1 Comments
By: John Keuvelaar

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Coach Stirling Wright is dedicated to leaving the past in the past and starting a new culture and attitude to the Tri City Icehawks this year.

"You can move the furniture around in a room, but it's still the same old furniture. You have to get new furniture (if you want to make a change) and that's what we are doing," said Coach Wright.

And the word is getting out. "A few days ago, I got a call from three players who said they heard that we were making changes up here," noted Coach Wright. So he invited them to come up and skate with them. Check them out and see if they wanted to be apart of this. And show up they did. Entering camp, the Icehawks have 16 players signed according to General Manager Colleen Dore. There was almost double that number of players on the ice as players came from several states have come here looking to better their skills under Coach Wright's teaching. "Definitely worth following" was the comment of one of his former players from the Carolina team that has signed and made the track across country to play here. Four other former players of Coach Wright as well as a few others who have either played against his teams or have been directed to play for him have made their way to the Icehawks.

But reputation doesn't equate into wins; hard work does and his camp showed you better like hard work or you better find another team.

To help both in the evaluating of the talent and running skills and conditioning, Coach Wright brought in eight year NHL veteran Jason Dawe. Coach Dawe also runs his own skills camp as well as having just been appointed as Scout for the Icehawks. While Coach Dawe lives in Buffalo, where he also played for five years, Coach Wright plans on having him here to help with more practices and hopes to coax him behind the bench.

The impact on the team was immediate as Coach Dawe ran the team through the morning skills and conditioning skills. The drills built in intensity as one skater would push a little harder, the other skaters' hollered encouragement and picked up their own effort. As the drills moved into offense versus defense, the "checkers" stepped forward adding to the spirit of the effort. What made the drills even more affected was the interaction between the coaches. They demonstrated the impact of the movement they were teaching and the "reason" it was more affective in the scope of play. Players would quickly skate to the bench to grab quick gulps of water before reengaging in the drills. As the practice went on, it was clear by the players' actions that this is a team "you" want to be a part of.

But tough drills and hard work is not all what Coach Wright brings to this team. From his bear paw hand shake, broad smile and upbeat, positive demeanor, he brings an infectious attitude that the players clearly gravitate to. Driving his hockey points' home with mental visual aids, e.g. driving a car, he speaks to his players in a way they respond to. Judging by their enthusiasm, even while dead tired, his points were getting through as they eagerly headed back out onto the ice. And as he likes to say, if it is not fun, then why are we here.

Will all of this equate into wins? Only time and the talent levels of the competition will tell. But one thing is sure. This is a team YOU will want to be a part of.

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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

q.leaklic Says:       On September 10, 2011 at 04:16 AM What an awesome way to epxlain this-now I know everything!

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John Keuvelaar
John Keuvelaar is a college student at Midwest Photography Workshops and Delta College. More from John Keuvelaar

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