Freeze adjusting to new coach

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This article was published 21/01/2022 (1534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After a rough ride to start the Manitoba Junior Hockey Season season, the Winnipeg Freeze shook things up and made a coaching change. The team announced Dec. 2 it was bringing in a new head coach and general manager, Taurean White.

White came over from the Central Canada Hockey League’s Nepean Raiders in Ontario.

With the team sitting at the bottom of the standings, the focus for White seemed to have shifted to long-term goals.

“Guys here are trying to solidify spots for next year now, so you just try to find different motivations,” White said. “Not saying that we’ve stopped looking at the playoffs, but as long as your guys are improving every day and developing that’s when we’re pretty happy with that particular progress.”

The MJHL trade deadline in early January saw the Freeze trade away some older players who “wanted to test the waters,” which allowed the team to stock up on younger talent and a fifth-round pick in next season’s draft.

Now that the team’s roster is set for the rest of the year, White said he’s trying to impart to the team a vision for the future.

“A big part of that right now is just building relationships with the players. You have to understand your players. You have to understand that hockey has changed since the time that I played,” White said. “Part of it is for the kids to understand how I would like our team to play moving forward, but it’s also a big responsibility on our coaches, on myself and the coaching staff, to understand the kind of players we have as well.”

While the coaching change is still fresh, White said early signs are promising.

“I’m very happy with the way guys have responded. Practice habits have improved significantly,” he said. “Guys are just asking question after question after question, and it shows that they’re engaged.”

White commended his team for being “dialed in” not only at on-ice practices but at video studying sessions and before game time, as well. He said he likes the level of competitiveness the team regularly exhibits.

Defenseman Kody Gibbs credited his new coach for some of the improvements.

“Taurean came in and really made an impact,” he said. “Accountability was a huge part of that — getting everyone bought in and putting effort in practice and games, and buying into the game plan.”

Gibbs hasn’t let the season’s struggles spoil his optimistic view of the team.

Despite the team’s youth and the less-than-ideal results — the Freeze had an 8-23-2 record at press time — the team has been holding its own against tough opponents, he said, even those like Steinbach, who are perennially sniffing after trophies.

“I think going forward, we’re just going to keep getting better and better. We have a young group of guys. They’re going to start buying in and start learning and start building experience,” Gibbs said.

The Freeze are scheduled to host Winkler at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex (1188 Dakota St.) on Jan. 29 at 6:15 p.m. For complete schedule, stats, and more information, visit wpgfreeze.ca