It is with a heavy heart that Hockey Canada acknowledges the passing of J.P. Parise, who lost his year-long battle with lung cancer Wednesday night at his home in Prior Lake, Minn., at the age of 73.

The native of Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., represented Canada only once, but it was a memorable appearance; Parise played in six of the eight games in the 1972 Summit Series, recording two goals and two assists while skating on a line with Phil Esposito and Wayne Cashman.

“J.P. Parise played an integral role in one of the greatest moments in Canadian hockey history, and his contributions to the game, both in Canada and the United States, will not soon be forgotten,” said Tom Renney, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “We send our condolences to the Parise family during this difficult time.”

Parise played 890 NHL games with Boston, Toronto, Minnesota, the New York Islanders and Cleveland from 1965-79, finishing his career with 594 points (238 goals and 356 assists), along with 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 86 playoff games.

Following his retirement, Parise spent nine seasons in the Minnesota North Stars organization, as an assistant coach with the North Stars and head coach of their AHL affiliate in Salt Lake City.

He was also a coach and director of hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minn.

Hockey Canada sends its condolences to Parise’s wife Donna, and sons Jordan and Zach.

It is with a heavy heart that Hockey Canada acknowledges the passing of Jean Béliveau, who died Tuesday night in Montreal at the age of 83.

Béliveau was one of the first five Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2012, and was the honorary captain of Canada’s gold medal-winning Men’s Olympic Team at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.

“Jean Béliveau embodied all that is right in a Canadian athlete, and with his passing we are reminded with great pride how he represented both hockey and Canada,” said Tom Renney, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “We have lost one of the hockey’s greatest ambassadors, and the game has lost a true gentleman. We send our condolences to the Béliveau family at this difficult time.”

A Trois-Rivières, Que., native, Béliveau spent parts of 20 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens from 1950-71, cementing his place as not only one of the greatest Canadiens ever, but as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.

Béliveau averaged more than a point a game during his career, scoring 507 goals and adding 712 assists for 1,219 points in 1,125 games. When he retired after the 1970-71 season, Béliveau ranked fourth all-time in goals scored, and was second in all-time NHL scoring, behind only Gordie Howe.

He was a two-time winner of the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1955-56 and 1963-64, won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top scorer in 1955-56, and was the very first recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1965.

He also played in 14 NHL All-Star Games, was named six times to the NHL First All-Star Team (1954-55, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1960-61) and four times to the NHL Second All-Star Team (1957-58, 1963-64, 1965-66, 1968-69).

Perhaps most impressively, Béliveau helped the Canadiens to 10 Stanley Cup championships (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971) second-most of any player, and was a member of seven more title-winning teams as an executive.

A legend in Montreal, Béliveau captained the Canadiens for his final 10 seasons (tied with Saku Koivu for the most seasons wearing the ‘C’), and had his No. 4 retired by the team at the start of the 1971-72 season, just months after announcing the end of his playing career.

Béliveau had the mandatory three-year waiting period for the Hockey Hall of Fame waived, and was inducted as part of the Class of 1972.

To recognize his contributions to the game, and to the country, Béliveau was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1998, and a Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 1988 (promoted to Officer in 2006, and Grand Officer in 2010).

It is with tremendous sadness that Hockey Canada acknowledges the passing of long-time player, coach and executive Pat Quinn, who died Sunday night in Vancouver at the age of 71.

Quinn stood behind a Team Canada bench on seven occasions, and worked as a general manager or assistant general manager on four others, helping Canada to five medals and a World Cup championship.

“We at Hockey Canada join with millions of Canadians in expressing our sincerest condolences to the entire Quinn family on the passing of Pat,” said Tom Renney, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “Few have touched as many lives as Pat, and we are eternally grateful for the massive legacy he has left in our society of Canadians.”

The Hamilton, Ont., native got his start with Team Canada as head coach at the 1986 IIHF World Championship, winning a bronze medal in Moscow, Soviet Union.

It would be 10 years before he was involved again with a national team, serving as assistant general manager at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, but that marked the start of long relationship with Hockey Canada.

Quinn was co-general manager of Canada’s gold medal-winning entry at the 1997 IIHF World Championship, and returned to the worlds to serve in the GM’s role by himself one year later.

His most notable Team Canada achievement came in 2002, when, as head coach, he helped end Canada’s 50-year Olympic gold medal drought with a historic win in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He was behind the bench again in 2004, coaching Canada to victory at the World Cup of Hockey, and served at a second Olympic Winter Games in 2006 in Turin, Italy.

After leading Canada’s National Men’s Team to the final of the 2006 Spengler Cup, Quinn was head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championship in Kazan, Russia, guiding a team that included Matt Duchene, Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Cody Hodgson to Canada’s second gold medal at the event.

Five months later Quinn stepped in as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team and won another gold medal at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ont., Canada’s record-tying fifth consecutive World Juniors gold.

Quinn was an NHL head coach for parts of 20 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, winning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 1979-80 with the Flyers and 1991-92 with the Canucks.

He sits fifth all-time in NHL history with 684 wins (in 1,400 games) and twice led his teams to the Stanley Cup Final – in 1980 with Philadelphia and 1994 with Vancouver.

As a player, Quinn played 606 NHL games with Toronto, Vancouver and Atlanta from 1968-77, recording 131 points (18 goals, 113 assists) and serving as captain in Atlanta from 1975-77.

He also left his mark on junior hockey, winning the Memorial Cup as a member of the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1963, and again as co-owner of the Vancouver Giants in 2007.

Quinn served as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame Board of Directors, a position he took over in August 2013, and spent 15 years as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee.

Hockey Canada sends its condolences to Pat’s wife, Sandra, and his daughters, Valerie and Kalli.

“In lots of ways it’s (like) coming home.”

That’s how Tom Renney described his return to Hockey Canada after being introduced Tuesday as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer.

Renney’s relationship with Hockey Canada goes back more than two decades, to when he was the head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Team from 1992 to 1994. He guided the team to a silver medal at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games, as well as Canada’s National Junior Team to silver at the 1999 IIHF World Junior Championship. He won two more medals as an assistant coach with the 2004 (gold) and 2005 (silver) IIHF World Championship teams.

In between stints behind the bench he spent two years behind the scenes as the vice-president of hockey operations. Now he’s back, this time as captain of Hockey Canada. It’s role that means a great deal to the Cranbrook, B.C., native.

“It’s like coming back and giving back to your family,” he says. “You can appreciate how meaningful it is to me that I’ve been entrusted…to lead the parade here from an operations perspective. I certainly would not be able to do that had I not had great experiences with Hockey Canada in the past.”

In his new role, Renney will oversee the men’s, women’s and sledge high-performance programs; sales, marketing and licensing; membership; communications; grassroots registration, development and retention; and volunteer coaches and officials. It’s these last two areas – grassroots and volunteers – in particular, that Renney looks forward to engaging with.

“(This position gives) me a chance to pay attention to what’s most important in the game and that’s developing its people, and not just on the ice but off the ice,” he says “I take great pride in that. It really does start with the little people’s first adventure to the rink.”

Renney still remembers his first time on skates, an hour-and-a-half outing spent in a 10-foot radius. “I was absolutely soaking wet and cried my head off when I was told I had to get off the ice. I hadn’t moved 20 feet (the entire time).”

He was hooked.

“I remember being a five-year-old defenceman standing on the blue-line because that’s where I was told I was going to play and watching the play go to the other end of the rink and still standing there. It was wonderful.”

Renney’s passion for development at the grassroots level is rooted in these happy memories with the Cranbrook Minor Hockey Association. And they’re a warm reminder – and nudge – about what he needs to do to help instill this love of hockey in others.

“We have to align ourselves with the reason why we participate in the first place, and that’s because mom, dad, a referee, a coach and a manager decided to make coming to the rink worthwhile when we were little people.”

Renney looks forward to building relationships with the people who make the rink feel like a second home. With any luck this fall will allow him and other staff members some time to visit arenas and work shoulder to shoulder with officials, scorekeepers, players and parents.

“I know across the country we have thousands of volunteers that are ready, willing and able to step up and give their time to make sure that we make the arena a destination,” he says.

Talking with volunteers about the sport over coffee at the rink and offering feedback on how they themselves can grow within the game are just two things Renney hopes he and his team can do to bring a more personal touch to the game at the community level and continue to help it grow.

“The big thing is through my example at least I’m able to remind people that this is what we got to do more of,” says Renney. “And I’m ready for that.” 

A memorial service for the late Wayne Fleming, who lost his courageous battle with cancer on March 25 at the age of 62, will be held Tuesday, July 16 at 2 p.m. MT in the multi-purpose room at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

For more information on the memorial service, CLICK HERE.

Fleming spent considerable time with Hockey Canada during his 30-plus years in the game as a coach and administrator, and played a major role in developing content for Hockey Canada’s development programs at the grassroots level, much of which is still in use today.

The Winnipeg, Man., native touched countless lives, taking his technical knowledge and teaching skills to six countries and sharing his love of the game with thousands of players and coaches.

“Hockey Canada has lost a great friend, and the hockey world has lost not only a tremendous coach, but a wonderful man,” Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada, said in March following Fleming’s passing. “We send our condolences to Wayne’s wife, Carolyn, their four children and the rest of the Fleming family.”

After spending nine years as head coach of the University of Manitoba men’s hockey team, winning Great Plains Athletic Conference championships in 1982-83 and 1983-84 and the CIAU Coach of the Year award in 1983-84, Fleming joined the Canadian Hockey Association in 1990 as general manager and assistant coach with Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team.

Working under legendary Team Canada head coach Dave King, Fleming helped the Canadians to a silver medal at the 1992 Games in Albertville, France, Canada’s first Olympic hockey medal since winning bronze in 1968.

After stints as head coach of Leksands IF (Sweden – 1992-96), EHC Kloten (Switzerland – 1996-97), EV Landshut (Germany – 1996-97), Fleming began his NHL career as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders from 1997-99 and Phoenix Coyotes during the 1999-2000 season.

He returned to the CHA in August 2000 as vice-president of hockey operations and head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Team, leading Team Canada behind the bench at the 2001 and 2002 IIHF World Championships, and served as associate coach under Pat Quinn at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, winning a gold medal, and 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

“He was really the glue of the coaching staff for the 2002 Olympics,” Nicholson told the Toronto Sun in May 2011. “He was the guy that brought Pat Quinn and Ken Hitchcock and Jacques Martin together. That’s what Wayne is, he just does it in the background. If you talk to any of those guys, they’ll give all the credit in the world to him for us winning gold for the first time in 50 years.”

Fleming continued his NHL coaching career as an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002-06 and Calgary Flames from 2006-08 before serving as head coach of Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League during the 2008-09 campaign.

He was an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers in 2009-10 and had spent the last three seasons as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It is with great sadness that Hockey Canada acknowledges the passing of Wayne Fleming, who lost his battle with cancer on March 25 in Calgary at the age of 62.

Fleming spent considerable time with Hockey Canada during his 30-plus years in the game as a coach and administrator, and played a major role in developing content for Hockey Canada’s development programs at the grassroots level, much of which is still in use today.

The Winnipeg, Man., native touched countless lives, taking his technical knowledge and teaching skills to six countries and sharing his love of the game with thousands of players and coaches.

“Hockey Canada has lost a great friend, and the hockey world has lost not only a tremendous coach, but a wonderful man,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “We send our condolences to Wayne’s wife, Carolyn, their four children and the rest of the Fleming family.”

After spending nine years as head coach of the University of Manitoba men’s hockey team, winning Great Plains Athletic Conference championships in 1982-83 and 1983-84 and the CIAU Coach of the Year award in 1983-84, Fleming joined the Canadian Hockey Association in 1990 as general manager and assistant coach with Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team.

Working under legendary Team Canada head coach Dave King, Fleming helped the Canadians to a silver medal at the 1992 Games in Albertville, France, Canada’s first Olympic hockey medal since winning bronze in 1968.

After stints as head coach of Leksands IF (Sweden – 1992-96), EHC Kloten (Switzerland – 1996-97), EV Landshut (Germany – 1996-97), Fleming began his NHL career as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders from 1997-99 and Phoenix Coyotes during the 1999-2000 season.

He returned to the CHA in August 2000 as vice-president of hockey operations and head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Team, leading Team Canada behind the bench at the 2001 and 2002 IIHF World Championships, and served as associate coach under Pat Quinn at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, winning a gold medal, and 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

“He was really the glue of the coaching staff for the 2002 Olympics,” Nicholson told the Toronto Sun in May 2011. “He was the guy that brought Pat Quinn and Ken Hitchcock and Jacques Martin together. That’s what Wayne is, he just does it in the background. If you talk to any of those guys, they’ll give all the credit in the world to him for us winning gold for the first time in 50 years.”

Fleming continued his NHL coaching career as an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002-06 and Calgary Flames from 2006-08 before serving as head coach of Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League during the 2008-09 campaign.

He was an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers in 2009-10 and had spent the last three seasons as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

by Lucas Aykroyd – iihf.com

Steve McCarthy’s career is loaded with connections and parallels to the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia.

That might initially seem like a surprising assertion about a 31-year-old Canadian defenceman who currently plays for the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat.

However, McCarthy’s second straight World Junior appearance in 2001 was in Russia – although it was in Moscow, rather than this year’s site, Ufa. That was also the last time Russia hosted the tournament.

Chosen 23rd overall in the 1999 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, McCarthy was named the 2001 team captain by coach Stan Butler. The Trail, B.C., native was expected to help Canada improve on its bronze medal-winning performance the year before (although ultimately the Canadians came third again).

That’s exactly the same position Team Canada’s in this year, having finished third behind Sweden and Russia on home ice in Calgary in 2012. And like Canada in 2000, the 2013 team is also expected to take gold after missing out on top spot for three straight years.

"With the team going there this year, they’ll have a great team like Canada always does," McCarthy told IIHF.com in a phone interview. "The ultimate is to win the gold medal, which hopefully they can do. But in terms of advice I’d give, the biggest thing is to just relax. You put enough pressure on yourself. Sometimes when you’re in the moment, you forget to enjoy it."

At times, the Canadians were a little bit intimidated by their surroundings in Russia, which McCarthy described as "completely different from what we’re used to". They didn’t venture far from their team hotel and the language barrier was challenging, just as it is for Russians in North America.

One of the toughest moments for McCarthy and his teammates was losing a 3-1 round-robin tilt to the host Russians. Their frustration was compounded by a 17-year-old Ilya Kovalchuk’s decision to pump his fist demonstratively before potting the final empty-net goal.

Does that memory still infuriate the Heat assistant captain today?

"No, not anymore," McCarthy said. "I remember when I went to the Atlanta Thrashers, I talked to Kovy about that. He was a young kid at the time. He was just pretty excited playing in Russia. Personally, it’s obviously something you don’t want to see, but after getting to know Kovy a bit, that’s just how he is. He’s a good person and a good teammate. I learned to let that go. But it was a tough pill to swallow in the heat of the moment, for sure."

It wasn’t as if McCarthy was surrounded by sub-par teammates at that 2001 tournament. For example, Dany Heatley, a 2010 Olympic gold medallist who’s now Canada’s all-time leading scorer internationally, and Jay Bouwmeester, possibly the NHL’s best skater and a two-time world champion (2003, 2004), were part of the mix. To name a few others, Brad Boyes, Mike Cammalleri, Nick Schultz and Dan Hamhuis were also destined for NHL success and IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship stardom.

But the Canadians just couldn’t solve a physical Finnish squad that featured tournament all-stars in goalie Ari Ahonen, defenceman Tuukka Mäntylä and winger Jani Rita. The Finns tied them 2-2 in the round-robin and prevailed 5-2 in the semifinals. 

"I remember after we lost and were unable to compete for the gold medal," McCarthy said. "Our coaches came in and said: ‘Look, you’re playing for the bronze medal. I know it seems detrimental now, but when you look back later, if you can win a bronze medal, you’ll be proud of it.’ They were exactly right."

Raffi Torres scored on Sweden’s Henrik Lundvqist in overtime to lift Canada to a 2-1 win in the 2001 bronze medal game.

The experience also gave McCarthy some perspective on the value that players under 18 can bring. In 2001, both Bouwmeester and future Ottawa Senators star Jason Spezza were participating in their second tournament at age 17.

What McCarthy witnessed made him optimistic that this year, Halifax Mooseheads teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin – both 17 – can get the job done against players a year or two older.

"With the older players Canada’s using this year, like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, they’ll make sure [MacKinnon and Drouin] are integrated into the team," McCarthy said. "You’ll never know that they’re 17-year-olds. That’s the great thing about Team Canada – all the team-building exercises and how fast you come together. Those kids might be a little bit nervous, but after a day or so, they’re going to realize that they’re welcome with open arms."

After his World Junior days ended, McCarthy racked up 302 NHL games with the Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Atlanta Thrashers. Yet while he loved appearing in his first NHL game against San Jose, and scoring his first NHL goal in front of family and friends in Vancouver, playing in the World Juniors still remained a career highlight. "It’s something I’ll always remember and be proud of," McCarthy said. He still hangs out with U20 teammate and fellow British Columbia native Barret Jackman in the summer to this day.

And McCarthy’s involvement with Russia wasn’t over. After coming off a tough third season with Atlanta, the veteran signed with the KHL’s Salavat Yulayev Ufa for 2008-09. What did he think of this year’s World Junior host city?

"I went, I gave it a shot, and I had a good experience," McCarthy said. "Unfortunately I got hurt and it was cut short. But for the young players going to this year’s World Juniors, it’s a nice little place. The people are very nice and you’re going to get treated well. The Ufa Arena is a great building. It’s a hockey town and the rink will be full. I have nothing but great things to say about the Russian people and the way I was treated in Ufa. The players made me feel welcome too."

Two well-known ex-NHLers helped McCarthy adjust to the overseas lifestyle during his 18-game stint.

"I had a chance to live with Alexander Radulov in a two-bedroom apartment," said McCarthy. "He’d been in Nashville, so he spoke English and he took care of me. Then you had an older guy in Oleg Tverdovsky, who played a lot of years in the NHL, and I could lean on him over there. They’d help me with going to restaurants and stores, stuff like that."

McCarthy, who subsequently spent a season with the Finnish SM-liiga’s TPS Turku (2010-11) and won a championship with the Swiss NLA’s ZSC Lions (2011-12), has an interesting perspective on the styles of top European leagues.

"I think the fastest league would probably be the Swiss league," he said. "Especially on the big ice, all three leagues are fast, but I’d say Switzerland was the fastest. In Russia, it’s similar, but there are a few older players, guys who have played in the NHL and have more experience. There may be more control to the game. In Finland, it’s very similar to North America. Maybe a little faster than the AHL, but pretty close. The Finns have a physical league – maybe even more physical than over here at times."

With just two seconds left, McCarthy scored the winning goal in Game 7 of the Swiss finals last year against SC Bern. It was an amazing triumph under his erstwhile Atlanta coach, Bob Hartley. But today, this World Junior veteran isn’t necessarily looking to grab the spotlight with the Heat, who look like bona fide contenders for the AHL’s Calder Cup.

"I enjoy being in Abbotsford," McCarthy said. "We have a great team with a lot of young players. If I can help them out a bit or answer their questions or set an example of how you should prepare yourself as a pro, I’d like to pass that along. I’m a little bit older than most of our players. I’d like to help them reach their dreams. That’s how I see my role."

"Regular" is not a word to describe Mike Babcock. It's the opposite of regular to be the only coach in NHL history to have won an Olympic gold medal, an IIHF World Championship gold medal and a Stanley Cup. In the eyes of professional sports, Mike Babcock is anything but regular.

The Tribune sat down with Babcock, a McGill graduate, for an exclusive interview to discuss his hockey roots, life as a Red Wing, his Olympic experience, and life off the ice.

Roots

Babcock began his playing career at the University of Saskatoon, but took a gap year to pursue his dream of becoming a professional hockey player. Realizing his chances of playing in the NHL were slim, he decided to resume his academic and university hockey career at McGill as a visiting student following heavy recruiting by head coach Ken Tyler. Babcock doesn't take his McGill experience for granted.

"I'm proud to have gone to McGill. When I was here, I didn't know what McGill was about," Babcock explained. "I didn't know that everyone I met studied harder than me and had a plan way different than mine. That affected my life. I'm thankful to have been part of something bigger."

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1986 and brief playing and coaching stints in the Western Hockey League (WHL), he landed a coaching job at the little-known University of Lethbridge in Alberta. He didn't expect much from the opportunity, but the experience turned out to be a launching point for his career.

"That wasn't my dream job, that was the only job I could get," Babcock said. "The Lethbridge administration was cutting their program. We went there; they had never been in the playoffs. We won the national championship. It was a miracle. That was the best job in coaching I've ever done. Things just came together. That gave me impetus."

His improbable success in leading Lethbridge to the CIS championship propelled him back to the WHL before being selected as head coach of Team Canada during the 1997 IIHF World Junior Championship. It won gold and his success opened doors to the NHL. He was hired as the bench boss of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 2002.

From the onset of his NHL coaching career, Babcock found success. He guided Anaheim to the Stanley Cup Final in only his first season behind the bench, and his existing relationships with the Red Wings' front office from coaching their American Hockey League affiliate in Cincinnati led to his hiring in Detroit in 2005.

Life as a Red Wing

Hard work is what brought Babcock to Detroit, and over the years, this same principle became the foundation on which the Red Wings' organization is now built. One of these principles, particularly stressed by Babcock, is a team-first environment.

"The Red Wings is bigger than anybody … it's about the team. When you come to our team, the veterans run the show, not the guy you trade for. He doesn't affect the culture. He just fits in," he said. "What we try to do is create a demanding, supportive environment."

Working in a city known as Hockeytown, Babcock is fully aware of the expectations for his team and the pressure that accompanies it. The Red Wings currently hold the record for the longest streak of postseason appearances in all of North American professional sports (1991-2011). Yet, this doesn't seem to faze management, the players, or Babcock.

"There is pressure, but what pressure in life means is that you have a chance. If you're 15 teams in the league, there's no pressure. Is that what you want?" Babcock asked. "To me, pressure is a great thing, makes things exciting. We have a chance because we have good players, we're well-structured, have good management, and that leads to healthy pressure."

Though Babcock underplays the role of pressure in such a hockey-crazed city, it inevitably remains a strong presence in the locker room. Playing through a gruelling 82-game season, with extra exhibition and playoff games, Babcock consistently needs to find ways to motivate his team in order to bring them together on a nightly basis.

"Motivation, in my mind, is ‘what's in it for me?' Now, how do you get 23 people to find what's in it for them and be on a team? You give up some individual rights for team rights, but the reality is, they all still want to be important. That's what I do, I manage people."

The Olympic Experience
His ability to bring together such a dynamic group of talented players is what earned him the trust of Team Canada's management team. He was named head coach of the men's hockey team for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Once the roster was set, Babcock began the difficult task of turning 23 star players into the world's best hockey team all the while keeping egos in check and managing the tremendous expectations from Canadians.

"It wasn't an all-star team, it was a team," Babcock explained. "The best team wins at the Olympic games, not the best talent."

To illustrate this point, Babcock recalled a story from the summer player selection camp that set the tone for the rest of the journey.

"Steve Yzerman said something unbelievable at the summer camp. He said to the guys, ‘The management team, Ken Holland has more experience than I have, and so do Doug Armstrong, Kevin Lowe, and they've been willing to take the title of assistant. Ken Hitchcock has more experience than I have, and so do Lindy Ruff and Jacques Lemaire, and they've all been willing to take the title of assistant. If you think your ego is getting in the way of anything going on here, you're wrong. It's cut off now.'"

Despite the pressure, Babcock was overwhelmed with the immense support Canadians offered him and his team throughout the Olympics. Following Canada’s loss to the U.S. during the preliminary round, Babcock spoke about how each player's family offered immeasurable support, which combated the intense negativity of the Canadian media.

"When we lost to the U.S., we went to the Hockey Canada House that night where the families were waiting, and I always joke that we won something that night. The people were unbelievable."

Thanks to the incredible support they received, members of Team Canada were able to turn the pressure of winning into the impetus behind their run to the top of the podium. The loss to the U.S. served as a reminder that there were other teams who were driven by the same forces.

"Every championship we've ever won, something went wrong and we got through the adversity, we stuck together and we got better because of it," Babcock noted.

Babcock beyond the game
Babcock stresses the fact that work has never become a burden because it's his passion.

"It's all about finding something you love so much that you don't work, because you can't work as much as you need to in order to be the best … It's impossible, because the amount of hours you have to put in, you can't do it if it's work. You have to live it."

He is aware of the heavy time commitment that his job demands, so he feels the need to give back to his family and create lasting moments. One of these moments came in 2009, when the Chicago Blackhawks welcomed the Red Wings to Wrigley Field to participate in the annual NHL Winter Classic, the league's outdoor event. For Babcock, the experience was unforgettable in many regards, from being able to play in such a renowned field to having the opportunity to skate with his family before the game. These opportunities were his way of giving back to his family and, in the meantime, celebrating the game of hockey.

"Memories to me are about moments in your life. You don't remember half of the stuff, but you remember moments. That's a moment. That's what you're trying to do, you're trying to create moments in your life. That's what you think of."

There are rumours that next year's Winter Classic will be held in Detroit, something that Babcock would love to experience.

Defining Babcock

Throughout his life, Babcock always earned his opportunities. With his incredible success, it would be simple for him to be satisfied with his accomplishments and become complacent. Yet, what defines Mike Babcock is not what he has accomplished, but the fact that he has never lost sight of the principles that have guided him. In turn, he has always managed to transfer his disposition onto his players and coaching colleagues, translating attitude into success on every level.

"There are a lot of coaches [and] players that do it one year and don't work the next year. I'm not interested in that. Every single year we have to find a way to make it happen. If we do what we did last year, that's not good enough. That's the other thing. As soon as you get complacent, people are going past you. That's life, but it's exciting."

From Volume 31, Issue 16 of the McGill Tribune – CLICK HERE for the original article

It seems good things come in threes for Hockey Canada.

There are three important steps in our Program of Excellence, three maple leafs on the retro jerseys worn by our players at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, as well as 300 alumni and friends who attended a hot stove session over brunch as part of the POE’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

The Jan. 2 event, one of several special alumni activities held in conjunction with the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary and Edmonton, Alta., featured a players panel made up of World Junior Championship gold medallists, Dave Chyzowski (1990), Todd Harvey (19), Mike Moller (1982) and Steven Rice (19), along with a builders panel consisting of Canadian Hockey League president David Branch, former Hockey Canada president Murray Costello and current Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson.

“You could hear a pin drop, people were so tuned in, just hanging on every word,” Chris Bright, executive director of the Hockey Canada Foundation, said of the mid-day meal held at the Westin Calgary. “It was just a wonderful hot stove lounge.”

The panel discussed how the Program of Excellence “came to life” back in 1982, and how it has since grown into a hockey development system well-respected around the world for refining the country’s best players and turning them into gold-medal winning teams

“Murray Costello really talked about how government dollars were crucial,” Bright said. “David Branch talked a lot about how it was really tough, in the beginning, to get CHL teams to release their players for that long of a period.”

The hot stove was followed by a tour of Hockey Canada’s new home at WinSport Canada, including the organization’s state-of-the-art office, Team Canada dressing room facilities and impressive trophy room known as the Hall of Champions.

“We were in the Hall of Champions, where all the World Junior plates are, and at first everyone was just appreciative of being in the facility,” Bright recalled. “As we got more comfortable being there, five-to-ten minutes later, the plates were coming off the trophy shelves and guys were taking pictures like they were 18, 19 years old.”

Highlights of the Program of Excellence’s 30th anniversary celebrations also included the welcoming dinner Dec. 31, which featured watching Canada edge the United States 3-2 on the big screen, followed by seeing Sweden beat Russia 4-3 in overtime live at the Saddledome, during 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship preliminary action.

Upwards of 70 National Junior Team alumni also had the opportunity to mix and mingle with the 2012 Canadian contingent Jan. 1 at a private event in Calgary, which Bright said gave the former and current players alike the feeling that “something special is really happening for them.”

The National Junior Team alumni and about 10 influential hockey builders also gathered on the team benches for the first intermission of Canada’s semifinal game against Russia, where they were treated to a video produced by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League to recognize their contributions to the Program of Excellence over the past three decades.

The celebration also spilled over into the community, with alumni taking part in Hockey Day in Calgary by playing road hockey, flipping pancakes and signing autographs down at Olympic Plaza, kicking off the New Year and marking the 100th anniversary of the city’s recreation department.

“It’s a celebration of the game,” Bright said of why it was important for Hockey Canada to recognize the Program of Excellence’s 30th anniversary and those who helped make it happen. “These people built the program on their own backs … that’s why it’s so popular now.”

While the celebration itself was in recognition of the Program of Excellence’s past growth, “from Rochester in 1982, when the team stood on the blue line and had to sing their own anthem, to what it is today, when a massive flag is being passed around the Saddledome,” Bright said the connections made among players and alumni at this year’s reunion will help the POE continue to prosper.

“Just that network alone is positive, and it can help influence the game in new ways,” he said. “If Hockey Canada’s development department can tap into the alumni’s experience, that is a terrific resource.”

For the alumni themselves, it was a true reminder of an unbreakable bond, as thick as ice.

“They all have a respect for one another that carries over year-to-year, medal-to-medal, it didn’t matter, they were all part of something very special,” Bright said. “It’s a brotherhood that very few people can share.”