Gaetan, Leipert excited to share new co-coaching title with Cubs

“Me and Steve have been coaching for quite a while together, we’ve known each other for quite a while,” said Gaetan. “We have a similar style and work well together. So, it’s an easy move for us to [share] a co-coach title and kind of take the reigns this year together.”

Gaetan and Leipert were both hired by the Cubs ahead of the 2016-17 HJHL season, with Gaetan taking on the head coaching role from Calvin Foster while Leipert was named an assistant.

Over three seasons with the pair behind the bench, Medicine Hat has improved its record year over year from 8-24-6 in 2016-17 to a 17-17-4 record last year.

Already earning the confidence of players during his tenure, Gaetan said it was a no-brainer to promote Leipert.

“He’s a great guy, very knowledgeable, the guys all love him,” he said. “I was actually an assistant coach of Steve in bantam AAA way back. So, like I said we’ve been together for a while and work well together.”

Leipert’s head coaching resume included his time with the SEAC Bantam AAA Tigers in 2014-15 with Gaetan as his assistant.

Speaking to CHAT Sports during Medicine Hat’s prep camp at the Rec-Tangle Arena in Redcliff on Saturday, Leipert reflected on the journey the pair have shared.

“It has come full circle,” said Leipert. “J.D. is a great guy and we play well off each other, we’re yin and yang. He comes out with some statistics, I come out with some plays, then we role-reverse.”

Splitting head coaching duties on a junior hockey team is rare, however the pair have had preliminary talks about how to best divide resources and responsibilities.

“We’ve talked about some roles and responsibilities, who’s in charge of power play, who’s in charge of penalty kill to make everything work out well,” said Leipert. “We sort of had that role from last year as well, so we’re just going to start doing that again.”

The Cubs do have an assistant/video coaching position open according to the HJHL website, however Gaetan said they’re still determining whether that position will be filled.

Over 30 rookies and veterans turned out for the Cubs prep camp over the weekend, which included drills and a handful of scrimmages.

Gaetan said it’s been a good starting point for many of the Cubs, who will now be gearing up for the team’s main training camp in early September.

“It’s a weekend for guys that haven’t been on the ice, to prepare them a little bit for main camp next week,” he said. “Still some rust to shake off, but a lot of the guys came to play and worked hard this weekend.”

Between a new logo, new jerseys, a new captain in Tavin Stadnicki and renovations to the Kinplex, the Cubs are banking on 2019-20 to be a season of change.

As Leipert gets ready for his first head coaching role at the junior level, he said the organization is strong and is looking to equal or better last season’s breakout campaign.

“The Cubs have been around for years in Medicine Hat which is great,” he said. “It’s great to see the organization is still going, the board support that we have. The president right on down through everybody has all bought in to the organization and you can see the changes.”

Cubs main training camp will be held between September 6 and 8 at the Family Leisure Centre, while Medicine Hat opens exhibition play on September 14 in Coaldale to battle the Copperheads.

by Scott Roblin

Gaetan, Leipert excited to share new co-coaching title with Cubs

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