Beau's Hockey Insider - The GTHL

Former Midget AAA Trappers head coach Beau Moyer will be offering his hockey insight on "Beau's Hockey Insider." Aside from coaching, Moyer won an NCAA Div. III national championship playing for the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets in 2002 and was a draft pick of the OHL's North Bay Centennials in 1998. Enjoy!

Leaving North Bay in September was something that I did not think would happen when Robin Boucher and I were handed the reigns of the Trappers Midgets in the spring of 2006. At that time I never imagined that I would have moved to Toronto. For myself, it has given me an opportunity to meet great hockey people in this area. The hockey people are one thing, but the caliber of play is another.

Resigning from my position with the Trapper Midgets was something that had never crossed my mind until January. I played two years for Larry Keenan, and I have the utmost respect for the man. With him and Art taking a backseat and leaving their post it had nothing to do with my resignation. I was ready for a change, and I still have many regrets as to what was accomplished in those two seasons. Things were never really easy in those two years, but I am a better person for it.

Those two years made me ready for any challenge and the chance to move to Toronto, to coach in the GTHL was an option that I was contemplating since January. A couple of organizations had been in contact. I was approached by the Don Mills Flyers Minor Bantams in June after their coach Peter Zezel had passed away. At the time, I was unsure of a couple of things, such as employment. I had to put my decision on hold until I could land a full time job in the GTA.

By the time that I was able to find a job they had filled the position of head coach. The organization kept in contact with me over the summer and kept me a position as an assistant. This season so far has been a definite learning experience. I am coaching with Tate Phillips who has coached two first overall picks to the OHL in John McFarland and Ryan O’Reilly (Colorado Avalanche).

Coaching with Tate has given me a new appreciation for the game of hockey. Tate is big in skill development has allowed me to learn the ropes on how the game should be coached and taught at this level. Being an assistant has allowed me to sit back and learn, take it all in. Seeing a guy like this coach and instruct the kids made me realize that I had a lot to learn about the game, and a lot to learn in regards to how to treat a kid to get the very best out of them. Thinking I was a good coach leaving Midget and now in Bantam, I now knew I had a lot to learn.

The biggest difference here is the kids don’t come to the rink for fun. They come to the rink to become hockey players first and to have fun second. Their approach and focus as 13 year olds is something that would mirror a 16 year old when I was growing up. The focus and attention to detail of these kids is like your handling young professionals. From off ice workouts to three 1.5 hour practices a week, the kids are all business once they get through the arena doors. The rules are simple here they listen to the coaching staff and not their parents. Kids want to play their parents way, see you later, any kid is replaceable here.

Recruiting the top players is a key ingredient in the GTHL. Kids are coming in from all over Ontario now to play in the best minor hockey league in North America.

Why wouldn’t you want to play in the GTHL?

I have been to a couple of Minor Midget games this year and every night there is on average of 10-15 OHL scouts and many Division 1 NCAA recruiters. Kids from the North are at a disadvantage. The GTHL is all about exposure, this is the center of the hockey universe. Skill development is what divides the North from the South. From a young age these kids are tested daily, and see pressure from all angles. They compete and play with and against the best on a daily basis. It would be a good eye opener if you think your kid who is dominant at AA to come for a little drive to Toronto to see how they would mix here. Then you can decide for yourself if your kid might be able to do something with the game of hockey.

Coaching in the GTHL is a lot different then the Great North Midget League. It’s not the same excitement, there is no media concerned about us, they have the Leafs to worry about, I just need to go to the rink everyday and try to develop hockey players. We have kids from different backgrounds, kids from broken homes, kids of former NHLers (Doug Gilmour and Curtis Joseph). This has been a great first year so far here. We have beaten the Vaughan Kings, tied the Marlies who have yet to lose in GTHL play and advanced to the Quarter-Finals at the Nike Bauer Tournament in Chicago.

It has been a lot of fun so far and we have a great group of kids. Looking towards the playoffs we are optimistic of our chances. But we are in year 1 of a 3 year plan. Currently we are 4th in the 12 team league and 3 points out of 3rd with two games in hand.

As far as next season goes, I am unsure at this point what my plans are in the coaching world. I have had some interest from other organizations to be a head coach next year so we will see. I am enjoying my role this year so a decision will be made in a month.

Lastly, I do miss North Bay, some hockey people, family those who supported me all my years there. I have a lot of people to thank especially Larry Keenan, who always believed in me and never interfered the last two years, thank you. And to the current Midget Trappers I wish you nothing but the best the rest of the season. I miss the players that I had in those two years, and I have to thank those that never quit on me and endured the battles. Believe me you will be better off in the long run, nobody likes the word QUITTER on a resume!