Last night’s epic comeback victory by the Moncton Wildcats showcased their identity and character. Clearly that was the story of the game and arguably the last two years here in Moncton, but across the ice was a team and coach in transition. The feel around the concourse only seconds after a thrilling OT was that Montreal Canadiens draft pick Arseni Radkov stole the show which he did, but beyond his incredible performance is a story of believability, hope and connection.
A 53 point differential in the regular season separated the Cats and Dogs, but could argue that two organizations so rich in history and tradition are a lot farther apart than that. This isn’t about the hardware in the trophy case or historical success, because all that shit is in the past. Obviously, there’s a lot of different storylines portrayed in this opening round series and you don’t even have to dig far to find them, but what Brian Casey has done with that group of players just shows exactly what kind of coach and person he is.
What has Casey learned about himself as a person and as a coach since taking over as interim Head Coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs?
“I have learned and appreciate the hard work that everyone puts into this on a daily basis. From management, to staff and players it is a team effort by everyone,” explained Casey.
No one knows what the future holds for “Case” and hell who knows what direction they will go in the hiring process. What we have seen through two games of this series is what some pundits may have predicted, “oh it will be closer than people think.” Going into the series Brian Casey has taken his new group and in 9 regular season games and now two playoff games, he has created an identity and instilled hope and believability, but more importantly he has done it through making a connection which is players.
Brian Casey isn’t what some people around the hockey world would classify as a “big name” or a “high profile” coach and perhaps the deck is stacked against him because of that perception and hell who knows what might happen at the end of his tenure in the Port City.
Brian Casey might get a hand shake and a big thanks for his time and dedication to the post and that might be about it, because upper management might “want to go a different direction,” or go after a “bigger name.”
Navigating and creating a shift of identity, instilling and recalibrating a structure while getting buy in from the entire group in only four weeks or 11 games isn’t a coaches bump or a new voice, it’s coaching and one shouldn’t give a rats ass about what a resume looks like if they can provide that type of stability and balance in such a short period of time.
While everyone was fixated on the Wildcats comeback, what some people didn’t see was the energy and jump from a team and coaching staff on the other side. Sure they didn’t win and it was a valiant effort, but it was a flash in the pan, the Sea Dogs under Brian Casey have been towards that style of play ever since he took over. Again, this has never been about the wins and losses and Casey shouldn’t be judged on any of that, he should be judged by how the team has bought in and the connection he has made with his players.
“It was my first priority to establish strong relationships with the players,” stressed Casey. “I felt they needed to know who I was as a person a this helped with the connection I have for each of them,” added Casey.
As the series shifts to the Port City where the Cats look to close out the opening round in four straight, the Sea Dogs look to regroup from a heartbreaking loss in Game 2, but you want to know something people aren’t asking, “what are the Saint John Sea Dogs anymore,” because they now have an identity, believability and hope, because their interim Head Coach Brian Casey brought things together and has built a culture of connectivity to the group and that’s how you build capacity and consistency within an organization.
Near the end of the QMJHL regular season Casey received an email from Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey and the U18 AAA league that he will never soon forget. He had been selected as Coach of Year and the support he felt from his family and players back home is something that continues to fuel him as a person and coach.
“It means a lot to me and my family. Like all coaches, we do need support, and my family has sacrificed a lot so that I can enjoy coaching every day. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is my home, and being able to give back helping and coaching the young players from there means a lot to me,” explained Casey.
Casey is quick to point out what he believes to be the most impactful characteristic any coach can possess.
“I am a strong believer the biggest connection with players is that they always need to feel your support. They need to know you always have their backs, and we can collectively correct areas of their game together. I want my players to always have that comfort to feel free in talking with me and never hesitate in asking questions. It makes the relationship healthier.”
Everyone is enamoured with championship stories and historic successes, but perhaps the best stories ever told are all about the person behind the bench and what they did to turn things around.
The Quick Shift 