U of R hockey coach says landscape, motivational tactics changing in coaching world

As more and more abuse allegations come from the NHL, University of Regina Cougars men’s hockey coach Todd Johnson says the entire coaching landscape could be affected.

Multiple NHL players have levied allegations of physical or verbal abuse against coaches like Mike Babcock, Bill Peters and Marc Crawford in recent weeks.

“Most of the cases that we’re hearing about lately, I feel, are extreme (cases),” said Johnson, who is in his eighth season as the Cougars’ head coach.

Johnson played in the WHL from 1990 through ’93 with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Kamloops Blazers and Red Deer Rebels. He also played professionally in Germany.

“I was asked the other day what I remember from junior hockey or playing in Europe and nothing really compares to the stories that are coming out,” Johnson said.

Johnson said when he was a player, it was the norm for coaches to be hard on players and try different ways to motivate them.

“I don’t really recall coaches crossing the line with me,” he said.

Johnson was coached by Babcock during the 1991-92 season while with the Warriors — although it was for a short period of time.

“He traded me. We didn’t do very well at the start of the season and I was traded to Kamloops,” Johnson said.

Johnson believes the effects of the allegations being made now could affect coaches at all levels, not just in the professional leagues.

“It’s getting harder and harder for minor hockey and minor sports to get those volunteer coaches and now we’re seeing a bunch of coaches under the gun. They might rightfully be under the gun but it still puts a black mark on coaching,” Johnson said.

He said volunteers might be more leery to take on a coaching role because everything they do or say could be brought up.

“If they are saying things that are that extreme, they shouldn’t (be coaching) but I think we might lose some good coaches that believe it might just not be worth coaching,” Johnson said.

As a coach himself, Johnson said he has had to evolve to try and get the most out of his players.

“Things have changed since back when I played. The motivation and the yelling that happened back then, that was the norm anyway, and you’re always looking at ways now to communicate with players,” Johnson said.

“The relationships between players is something every coach is now striving for because obviously at the end of the day you’re trying to get players to play their best for you and the old-school tactics just don’t work anymore.”

Johnson said the tactical side of hockey is almost less important than creating a bond with the players.

“It’s more about the relationships and what you can get players to do and building those relationships. You see that the coaches that are doing well are the coaches who seem to have that figured out or are ahead of the game,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he hopes the recent events won’t have an effect when it comes to finding coaches for minor programs in the future.

“(Good coaching) is crucial for the development of these players and development of these players for being good people,” Johnson said. “I hope this doesn’t deter good coaches from coaching.”

NOTES: Johnson will be an assistant coach for the U Sports all-star team that is to face junior players who are hoping to make Team Canada for the upcoming world junior championship. The teams are to play Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 in Oakville, Ont. … The U Sports team also is to include Saskatoon-born University of Saskatchewan Huskies forward Collin Shirley.