Edmonds is making the transition

Skyhawks head Coach Randy Edmonds has made a seamless transition from coaching pro's to juniors. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The North Bay Skyhawks enjoy successes once again this year in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League but this season they are doing it with new a face behind the bench. Hockey Canada’s Coaching Mentor for this region Randy Edmonds is revisiting his grass roots looking to soar the Skyhawks to new heights.

“My long term plan with Skyhawks is to take them to the Royal Bank Cup,” said Edmonds. “I think it years takes 3-5 years to really but put your stamp on a team. There are things we are dealing with today that two or three years down the road probably wouldn’t exist. Rome wasn’t built in a day and sooner or later you’ll get things the way you want them.”

The former Metro Midget, North Bay's first “AAA” team returns to the Gateway City possessing time well spent in the Swedish Elite League. Edmonds split four seasons between Team Boro and Olofstroms Edmonds and recorded 75 goals for his Swedish clubs before becoming a bench boss in the league. Edmonds coached three different clubs that included Leksand, Vasteras and HV71. Leksand is Sweden’s oldest and most famous team.

“Leksand is like the Canada’s Leafs of Sweden and the pressure was immense behind the bench. As foreign coach in the Swedish Elite League the pressure is more to handle than a coach does in most NHL cities,” said Edmonds. “The papers, television, and other media have unbelievable focus on a coach in Europe. As a Canadian they love you but as a coach some want to see you fail because you’re not Swedish.”

In Edmonds last fourteen seasons he figures his Elite League team’s average age fell around 26, making the transition to Junior hard for the Scollard graduate. Edmonds role changed when he took on the job of coaching a junior team that consists of player’s aged 15-21.

“During the NHL strike 10 years ago my goalie Kari Takko was 33 and I was 31, so I was actually younger than my starting goalie. Now I have younger players and I have learned a heck of a lot since September,” said Edmonds.

“The pros on their worst still have a high level of play, where in Junior the gap between the best and worst in general is quite large. I think difference is the pros can manage small problems in their lives and still perform because they play for a living. They have unlimited time to practice, watch video, and go to the gym. Junior players have school and need to be kids, leaving less time to concentrate nutrition, sleep, and time management. But when the puck drops both groups want win just as bad as the other.”

Behind the bench the former Concordia University hockey standout coached some of the best Swedish Elite players in history to lace up the skates. While the National Hockey League was on strike during the 1994 season Edmonds had the pleasures of Nicklas Lidstrom protecting his team’s blue line. With no NHL players in his line-up for the Skyhawks Edmonds job as a junior coach means directing his players to become their best.

“I think one of the biggest jobs for me is to teach the kids how to prepare to play and practice with winning in mind because there is a big difference between preparing to play and preparing to win,” said Edmonds. “I think my determination and ambition has rubbed of on some players because I don’t think we would be where we are today if the players weren’t ambitious and determined. Sometimes the gap is frustrating just because I am the type to put my heart and soul into whatever I do. If I don’t like something, I can’t turn my head, I have to speak up and say something. It’s not entirely the fault of the kids but maybe more the fault of the programs they’ve been involved in.

Edmonds has coached every level which includes representing Canadian at the 2001 Sweden Hockey Games and 2002 World Hockey Championships but is happy to be coaching back in his hometown where his great grandfather Harold Prescott started the North Bay Polar Bears. The Polar Bears were one of North Bay’s first hockey teams back in 1920.

“I miss the pressure of coaching a Swedish pro team along with the pace overseas and daily morning practices,” said Edmonds. “Right now though I love being in North Bay. It’s just fantastic seeing my kids, and being home to spend time with my parents. Also I haven’t seen a lot of friends for 20 years, so getting re-acquainted with them is fun.”

Story by Todd Vandonk