Medicine Hat Cubs give coaches a two-year extension, and both look to continue success

“With Johnny on the bench there with me, I feel like we make a heck of a pair and it’s really exciting,” Derzaph said.

“The way we coach together. We both have our positives, and we feed off each other. Where one’s maybe lacking, the other’s picking it up and vice versa. It’s huge to have Johnny by my side, and I’m looking forward to it, really. He’s a heck of a coach,” he added.

“It took me all year to get the group going in my direction. I’m not saying it’s going to be easier going forward, but there’ll be returning players that know my style.”

Stehr says he joined the team when Randy Wong took over as general manager.

“The program was not in the best shape when we started, and to see where it’s come, it’s exciting to be able to carry on, especially winning the championship,” Stehr said.

He adds that it’s important for him to continue in the role with Derzaph.

“We worked really well together. We got along really well, and we worked on our ideas for what we wanted to see in the team identity. It was very similar and very on point, and it’s nice to be able to carry on and continue to grow on what we’ve built this year,” Stehr said.

Coming off the HJHL title, the Cubs will look to repeat.

“Ultimately, it’s going to take a strong team to do it again, and we’re willing to work and create that again,” Derzaph said

“We’ve got to build a team that can win,” he added.

“We had a really good ID skate a couple of weeks back, which makes it extremely promising when you see the players that we had out there. We know that others couldn’t make it. Definitely something to look forward to in rebuilding another winning group for the fall.”

Stehr says there has been a lot of interest in the program following the Cubs’ success last season.

“There’s always graduating local kids that would come and show up, but after the success we had, there’s been a lot of buzz, a lot of kids want to come play,” Stehr said.

“Some out-of-town kids from Saskatchewan, some SAHA kids, and the Lethbridge U18 AAA team, that ’08 year, there’s a lot of kids excited to come and we’re excited to have them because they’re very skilled and I’m excited to see the kind of dynamic they’re going to bring to the team this year.”

The interest in the team started to grow both on the ice and in the stands over the last few years.

“We had some guys move on from the program to play some college hockey. And then our fans are huge. We brought some young guys in this year, and they just couldn’t believe the fan support we got,” Stehr said.

“It’s unreal. And even when you’re coaching, you can’t help but hear noise.”

Some roster transition is expected next year, as the team had four players age out of junior hockey, including leading scorer and team captain Kyle Woolridge.

“Woolley, a great leader. Big game player. Really worked hard and scored when we needed him to score,” Derzaph said

“Then we’re looking at Ethan Burgeson, picked him up late this winter. Just an easy-going guy. Goes to the tough spots and was a point-a-game player for us through the playoffs. Then we’ve got Keynan [Cairns], there’s not a guy in the room that wouldn’t sit by him and hang out with him. A super guy that was just steady Eddie on the back end, tough to play against as a D-man,” he added.

“Then with Austin [Derzaph], just that presence of him being able to calm down a team that’s maybe getting a little bit worked up at times or can slow the game down to work it out and to make that breakout pass.”

Derzpaph says it’s time for other guys to step up and take on those reins.

“Score some goals and win some games and be a leader on and off the ice,” Derzaph said.

“We’ve got that core group there, that [team culture] was built from the leadership crew from last year, and the team, as well as Johnny and myself,” he added.

“They’re used to my style now, and to bring them in as leaders in the room, vets in the league. I think that it’s not going to be simple, but we’ve got the core there to build that leadership and to replace the four guys that have aged out.”

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat Cubs give coaches a two-year extension, and both look to continue success

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