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Mike Babcock is back on campus.
The longtime NHL coach is back at his hometown University of Saskatchewan, one of his alma matters, to lead the Huskies men’s hockey program on an interim basis.
After a year and a half off, the Huskies are entering their first season in 28 years without Dave Adolph behind the bench. Adolph retired in 2020 as the winningest coach in U Sports men’s hockey history.
Making the adjustment even more complicated for Babcock is him working on almost a volunteer basis until new assistant coaches Brandin Cote and Derek Hulak are ready to take over in a year or two.
So what are his expectations?
“Our young guys here are jacked,” Babcock said. “They’re ready to go, we’ll get some game action and we’ll find out if we’re any good.”
Merlis Belsher Place, which spent most of the pandemic as an emergency field hospital, is now ready to welcome the University of Calgary Dinos for a weekend set of preseason games Friday and Saturday.
It’s the start of an extended 10-game preseason rather than the typical four to six games the program would play before the Canada West season begins.
Babcock is waiting to see what his team shows him before he really digs in.
“You stand there and you watch,” he said. “The players decided with their play who’s on the power play, who’s on the first line, who’s on the second line just by their play. As a coaching staff you try not to get in the way. I’ll learn a lot this weekend.”
Babcock is the only hockey coach to have won a Stanley Cup title, an IIHF world championship and an Olympic gold medal. He also won a national title with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns after taking over there from Adolph in 1994.
Putting aside those accolades and turning his focus to student-athletes rather than professionals making millions of dollars is a challenge Babcock’s been eagerly awaiting.
“You expect them to be all in,” Babcock said. “The great release is hockey. They get here, they have a smile on their face, they do what they love to do and they get away from their studies for a little bit.
“They’re busy. Their No. 1 priority is getting a good education and setting themselves up for their future.”
The Huskies are preparing for even more changes on the ice.
Key players like goalie Taran Kozun, defencemen Tanner Lishchynsky, Colby Harmsworth and Sam Ruopp, and forwards Colin Shirley, Carson Stadnyk, Levi Cable, Logan McVeigh, Kohl Bauml, Layne Young and Andrew Johnson are all gone.
Goaltenders Roddy Ross, Adam Evanoff and Josh Dias lead a cast of newcomers which includes Connor Hobbs, Ty Prefontaine, Tate Olson, Parker Gavlas and Gunner Kinniburgh along the blueline. Owen Hardy, Zane Franklin, Vince Loschiavo, Jaxan Kaluski, Dawson Holt, Brayden Camrud, Chance Petruic and Alec Zawatsky lead the new group of forwards.
Travis Child, Declan Hobbs, Gordie Ballhorn, Evan Fiala, Shane Collins, Cody Spagrud, Wyatt Johnson, Jared Dmytriw, Donovan Neuls, Carter Folk, Jeff Faith and Justin Ball round out the returning cast.
With a new hockey season finally here, Babcock is relishing the opportunity to be back in Saskatchewan near familiar faces.
“My two sisters are here. I drove to Lloydminster last night and saw my mother in-law and father in-law. Tonnes of family — a tonne of cool kids, to tell you the truth,” Babcock said.
“I’m lucky in my life. I’m in a situation right now I get to do what I want to do, and that’s a lot of fun.”
