DS: Taryn Kotchorek and Kendall Fransoo have both won their fair share of awards this year, the latest being SJHL rookie of the month and defenceman of the month. How deserving are these two of the honours?
KH: Taryn really came out of nowhere, playing AA midget locally and after a hard summer of preparation he has been able to manage the net and give the team a chance to win on a nightly basis. Kendall has matured significantly and with the added responsibility of being the captain of our team, he has played with more discipline, while at the same time, raising the bar competitively. He is extremely difficult to play against and we are not surprised the league has taken notice.
DS: Saturday, up 5-2, yet Fransoo and one of your best goal scorers in McMillen are still risking their bodies and blocking shots, is this the type of mentality that you have instilled into these players? How far will this mentality bring them this year? This, in my opinion, is a mark of a great team.
KH: We certainly encourage these characteristics as a staff, however, credit needs to be distributed to our leaders. Both McMillen and Fransoo are leaders in our locker room. These aren't the only two that sacrifice their bodies in this way, however, when they are doing it, the rest will follow. Blocking shots is a skill in this game, without courage, this skill cannot be mastered. We hope this "we is greater than me" attitude will factor into a lengthy run in the playoffs.
DS: On Friday you saw solid goaltending in Carter Phair, stopping 38 shots in the shutout. Were you pleased with the way your team was attacking him?
KH: I was encouraged after watching the game on video. I felt our players worked hard in this game and after a tough start, we controlled the pace of the game. We know that solid goaltending in this league will be a large challenge to take on. Knowing this at this time of the season gives us lots of time to work on our puck management skills and confidence when facing the high calibre of goaltending this league has.
DS: Troy Gerein has been grinding all season long, he has put himself in great opportunities to notch his first goal of the season (hit two posts on Friday), what can you say about his play thus far? He is definitely a flexible player with the ability to play both ways.
KH: Troy has been a tremendous player to coach. He is extremely passionate and emotional about the game and the success of the team. The midget AAA Stars program and Coach Smith did a tremendous job with his development, which has enabled him to play both forward and defence. It is extremely comforting to have this asset in place on our roster. He is a very intelligent player that cares deeply about his teammates. It is only a matter of time before Troy finds the back of the net, I wouldn't be surprised one bit if that happens this weekend.
DS: Rory Davidson is another role player, consistently making himself known on the ice. How important is it to have a successful supporting cast when building towards a championship team?
KH: Rory is a player we've had our eye on since he played midget in Red Deer. He was the captain of that team and after meeting him and his family, I knew there was something special about him. He has a burning desire to win, he is gritty, and arguably one of the fastest players I have coached. When playoffs come around, his game will really take off. With less time and space you have to fight for every inch, and Rory is the type of player that will take a mile when challenged.
DS: The offensive outburst came on Saturday against Notre Dame, a team who has played you tough. What kind of changes did you and the coaching staff want to make from the Weyburn game? What can you say about the solid net minding of rookie goaltender Joel Grzybowski, and how pleased were you when you heard about his performance?
KH: The preparation leading up to the Notre Dame game was paramount for the start. Not being at this game, Coach Johnson and the leaders of our team did a phenomenal job leading up to the drop of the puck. Gryz had a tremendous game and we were extremely excited for him and his family winning his first start as a North Star. We hope he is a big part of the North Stars future, however, with games like that, he will certainly have options to play at the highest level and we will support whichever decision he makes. I was very proud of Joel, and equally as proud of the team and how they played in front of him.
DS: You are 4-0, while outscoring Humboldt 20-4 this season. You may have saw the best of Billy Gorn last time you met. How do you keep the team motivated knowing they may overlook the Broncos?
KH: Our preparation is focused on daily improvement regardless of our opponent. Humboldt is an extremely hard working team whom we have respect for. When the puck drops the score is 0 - 0 and that is where our focus will be. Our players are learning the importance of preparation and we will continue to master this part of our game.
DS: La Ronge has had an unbelievable streak, last losing in regulation on Oct 17 before it being snapped by Melville on Friday. Knowing they will want to get back on the horse, will you be preparing any differently against a team that is climbing the standings? They have the top penalty kill in the league, how will you try to break into the heart of their defence?
KH: We have not seen LaRonge yet this season. They have very good goaltending and a strong support cast of gritty hard-to-play-against players. La Ronge has always been a very tough opponent who doesn't require a lot of shots to win games. We will have to manage the puck very well against them and from the drop of the puck, we will have to be prepared to compete! This will be a game where “earning it” will be at the top of our preparation list.
DS: The North Stars are 2-0 this year, at home, against the first place team in the Sherwood division, the Melfort Mustangs. Travis Mayan is always a handful, are you working on shadowing him at all? If you could choose one reason as to why your team has been successful against them, what would it be?
KH: I believe players get excited to compete with a team that has won. Players get excited to compete against another teams best players, certainly when that player is a league MVP. It is hard to shadow a player with Mayans skill and vision, so we chose to attack him skill for skill, compete against compete. I really believe our team simply wanted it more on those nights. We were down 4 - 1 in the second game, there really isn't anything more you can do against those odds unless your team is willing to earn it! Our team was willing to earn it that night and we prevailed in the end. It was a total team effort.
DS: Knowing the trade deadline is looming, are you worried about making a move that may mess with the strong chemistry with this team? How are you looking to make the team even more of a contender than they already are?
KH: You recruit your team and develop your players. It would be irresponsible of me in my position to not look at all possibilities to make this team stronger. We value knowledge and will never rush into anything that will potentially compromise the chemistry in our room. If that means we travel across the country to watch and meet a player before making a decision, then that is what we are willing to do. Players have to believe in themselves and in each other, and that becomes a big part of the decision-making process of player selection. The best way to make your team stronger is to make the player stronger, our job is to develop the players in that dressing room and that is what we are committed to. It is the responsibility of the players to believe in themselves and to show up ready to compete, and prepared to “earn it.”
