"They Said It" with Odessa Jackalopes Head Coach Paul Gillis

Despite having very strong regular seasons the last 2 seasons, the Jackalopes have stumbled to the different DFW Teams in back-to-back years. Back in 2009, it was a big time battle between the Jackalopes & the Texas Brahmas were the Brahmas went on to win in 7 games and eventually beat the Colorado Eagles for the CHL Presidents Cup Championship to win it for the first time in their history.

Then last season it was the Allen Americans who had one of the strongest expansion teams in league history where after finishing 2nd in the Southern Conference, stunning the Jackalopes who finished with 101 points. And many people had them easily making the Presidents Cup Final before Allen took them out before losing to the Rapid City Rush in 6 games in the Final.

In this edition of "They Said It," the league asks the Jackalopes Coach about his reputation in Minor League Hockey, Sebastien Thinel winning a League MVP in recent years leadership and it's impact and facing some new teams in the Southern Conference.

Here's a look at the records of how the Odessa Jackalopes have done the last 3 seasons.

2007-2008 Season

Regular Season: 32-25-7 71 PTS, 3rd Place in Southwest DIV, 4th in Southern Conference

Playoffs: Play In Round, defates Austin 2-1; Conf SFS Lost to Laredo 4-0


2008-2009 Season

Regular Season: 39-19-6 84 PTS, Southwest DIV. Champions, 2nd in Southern Conf.

Playoffs: Conf. SFS Defeat Laredo 4-2, Conf. Finals Lost to Texas 4-3


2009-2010 Season

Regular Season: 48-11-5 101 PTS, 1st in Southern Conference

Playoffs: Conf. SFS Defeat Texas 4-2, Conf Finals Lost to Allen 4-3


Here's the Odessa Jackalopes Edition of "They Said It" on the Central Hockey League Website.


The Jackalopes have had two extremely strong seasons during each of the last two years but have fallen short of earning a trip to the Finals, what are your thoughts as what has held your team back from taking that next step?

Well they were two different individually different games in each of those games we made some fundamental mistakes early and got ourselves into trouble with a bad start and had to fight back continually the rest of the way. You just can't do that, especially late in the postseason or good teams will beat you. Those are two individual games where we didn't succeed, but we will continue with our same philosophy to get better with every game, move forward and try to get over the hump this year. But the bottom line is we didn't play well enough to win in those games and the other team did.



The Chemistry on your team seems to be among the best in the league, how has your core group of players been to coach?

Our core group has been great to coach. The one thing we believe in is our making sure we bring in good people that have a team first attitude. That's something we really take into consideration when recruiting and because of that we've had very few problems over the years with the players. That always starts with your core players and the leaders on your team.



Sebastien Thinel has won a CHL MVP and was in the running last season, what kind of force can he be for your team when he gets going?

I think he has already has his game going. He's been one of the best in the league over the last three years, he's been a force day in and day out, and he has a deep impact on this org. both on and off the ice. He comes ready to practice and ready to play everyday and the success he has had over the course of his career come directly from the work he's put in.



Joel Martin had a tremendous run in net last season, was he more then you expected last season or were you confident he could put those type of numbers?

I was definitely confident that Martin could have the season he did last year. I've seen him play before with Kalamazoo, and had to coach against teams he has played on. When he came in last year I knew the level he was capable of playing at and there was no question in my mind what he was capable of.



Your team has tremendous leadership, how does this impact the younger players on your club?

It's very important for our older players to take the lead to make sure our team plays hockey the proper way. We as a coaching staff lean on our older players not only for input but to lead the way on and off the ice with how they behave in the community and how they perform on the ice. Your veterans and leaders are always a huge help to us as coaches.


The South or Berry Conference has inherited the Mudbugs, Riverkings and Oilers, how different will this be competing with some new faces in the conference?

The league is getting more competitive every year. The quality of players, coaches, and teams is steadily improving with each season, so that makes things tougher. Not just with the new teams in our conference, but the new teams overall. The more teams there are to play, the harder it becomes to win a championship. We won't see Mississippi this year in the regular season, but could face them come playoff time so there are always going to be changes and adjustments that need to be made by every team over the course of a season.


The Jacks will be the first opponent for the Quad City Mallards, a team you coached to a championship previously, how will that game be and will it feel any different for you then just a normal game?

The Game will not feel any different. For me it will be a normal Saturday Night Game and a game that we're all trying to win.

Q&A with Tulsa Oilers Head Coach Bruce Ramsay

In this edition of "They Said It", the Tulsa Oilers are looking to turn around what's been several disappointing seasons in a row as the team have been out of the playoffs every since the 2005-2006 season as the Oilers have been near the bottom of the Conference and have been struggling to not just be competitive but getting fans and media attention in the Tulsa Area as battling for one of the last playoff spots would be a huge deal.


Currently Bruce Ramsay took over last year as he hopes to turn around what's been a culture of losing and playing in front of an empty BOK arena in Tulsa. One of the big pluses for Oilers fans was the play of Rob Hisey where he called up to the Springfield Falcons and that lead to him signing a two way contract with the New York Islanders org earlier in the offseason. Where he will start the year next year with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) but with some strong play and a touch of good fortune, he could find himself playing in Long Island for the New York Islanders.


He will be looking to get the team back to the playoffs as the Oilers are now heading to the Berry Conference (South) as they will play the 5 Texas Teams along with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Arizona Sundogs and the Mississippi Riverkings who are also switching from the North to the South this upcoming year.


Here's a look at how the Tulsa Oilers have done in the last 3 seasons.


2007-2008 Season


Regular Season: 25-35-4 54 PTS, 4th Place in Northeast DIV, 8th Place in Northern Conf.


Playoffs: Out of Playoffs




2008-2009 Season


Regular Season: 18-38-8 44 PTS, Last in Northeast DIV, 7th in Northern Conf.


Playoffs: Out of Playoffs



2009-2010 Season

Regular Season: 28-29-7 63 PTS, 6th Place in Northern Conference


Playoffs: Out of Playoffs




Here's the Other "They Said It" Features on the Central Hockey League Website.


Chris Brooks: RGV Killer Bees


Laredo Bucks: Terry Ruskowski


Quad City Mallards: Frank Anzalone


Rapid City Rush: Joe Ferras



Dayton Gems: Brian Gratz


Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs: Scott Muscutt




Here's the Q&A from the Central Hockey League Website


Give us a snapshot of how your first season with the Oilers went?


My first season with the Oilers was like hiking through the Rocky Mountains. At certain points we were on a summit then at other times we were in the valley. We did not develop the consistency needed in order to be a playoff contender. Missing the playoffs for the first time as a head coach was very disappointing. All in all there were many positives introduced last season that we are going to exercise to propel the Oilers Organization back to the summit of the mountain.


Your team got off to a great start and had arguably the MVP of the first half of the season with Rob Hissey (later called to the Springfield Falcons, AHL), how tough was his departure on the team?


Our first indication of Rob Hissey's value to our club prior to his call-up when he was injured. During his injury we lost 5 games in a row. When you lose your #1 powerplay, penalty kill and forward player, it is going to affect the team in a negative fashion and as an organization, we certainly felt the effect.


There is a fine line with the development of players and trying to win hockey games, does losing a player to the AHL seem more like a good thing or is it more of a disappointment?


Losing players to the AHL should never be considered as a disappointment. One of the main focuses of a coach is to push and motivate their players to strive to be their best and that includes playing at the highest possible level. It is nearly impossible to replace a player of Rob's caliber during the season so you hope that his ability at the next level motivates and inspires his teammates to follow suit.


Rob recently signed a two way contract with the NHL/AHL and he called me and told me that I was a big part of his signing and that in and itself worth its weight in gold as a coach for the Oilers Organization. Also, having more players move up to the AHL is a positive recruiting tool for high caliber player to sign with Tulsa as they there are opportunities to get noticed and advance in their hockey career.


Your signings this off season show you are putting together a competitive, young and fast team. Is that the game plan you want to put together?

Our goal and philosophy as an organization this season has changed from a team stocked with veteran players to a team of younger players whose goals are to play at the next level.

Your defensive signings has been very solid, is this a team you see being defense first?

Our defensive signings to the point have been very solid. As the old saying goes "Championships are won on the defensive side of the ice." It comes down to the fact that if you can't get the puck out of the net, it's going to be tough to create offense. In the game as its played today, coaches look for mobility in the d-corps and with our signings so far, we definitely have added significantly to this theory.

Who do you look up to for their coaching staff, who is one of your coaching mentors/hero's?

I have worked under some great coaches that have had a positive influence on my coaching philosophy. Dave Allison and Danton Cole are two coaches that have helped me out along the way. When it comes to style of coaching I would have to say that Todd Nelson, the new head coach of the Oklahoma City Barons, and one of greatest friends, would be someone that I resemble the most.

The Oilers are one of the teams that moved conferences heading to what is essentially the South, do you see this as more of an advantage or disadvantage?

I believe it's too early to tell which conference will be stronger. The only real disadvantage I can relate to is that the new teams from the IHL had a late start recruiting due to the merger thus inhibiting them from early recruitment. Either way, to accomplish our team goal, you have to beat everyone and there will be some very strong teams in both conferences.

Q&A with Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Head Coach Scott Muscutt

In the latest edition of "They Said It" Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Head Coach Steve Muscutt talks about bringing the team back to glory after the Mudbugs finished 3rd in the Northern Conference and upsetting the Colorado Eagles in the Northern Conference Semifinals and came within 1 win of beating the eventual President Cup Champion Rapid City Rush.

This was one of the most successful seasons in recent memory for the Mudbugs where despite making the playoffs every year since 2004, they have been problems advancing in the post-season which include a couple of occasion's where they finished on top of the conference.

One of the biggest recent post season failures was in 2008 where after a 44-14-6 record for 94 points, the Mudbugs were swept by the Texas Brahmas in 4 games straight during the Brahmas first season at the NYTEX Sports Center in North Richland Hills, Texas.

After Bossier-Shreveport's strong season, head coach Scott Musctt is looking to bring home the Mudbugs first League Championship since 2001 and the fans are looking as they have high expections for the 2010-2011 season.

Here's a look at other "They Said It" Segments

Dayton Gems Brian Gratz

RGV Killer Bees Chris Brooks

Laredo Bucks Terry Ruskowski

Rapid City Rush Joe Ferras

Quad City Mallards Frank Anzalone


Here's the Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs Records over the last 3 seasons.


2007-2008 Season

Regular Season: 44-14-6 94 PTS, Northeast DIV. Champions, 1st in Northern Conference

Playoffs: Conference SFS: Lost to Texas Brahmas 4-0


2008-2009 Season

Regular Season: 39-19-6 84 PTS, 3rd in Northeast DIV, 4th in Northern Conference

Playoffs: Beat Rocky Mountain Rage 2-1 in Play In Round, Lost to Colorado Eagles 4-0 in Conf. SFS


2009-2010 Season

Regular Season: 38-22-4 80 PTS, 3rd in Northern Conference

Playoffs: Beat Colorado Eagles 4-0 in Conf. SFS, Lost to Rapid City Rush 4-3 in Conf. Finals


Here's the Q&A from the Central Hockey League Website

Your team finished strong last year despite many injuries, what did you learn about that team in April?

I could not be more proud of the group of guys that finished the season for our club. They wore the jersey with pride and refused to let excuses stand in the way of their best efforts. As a result, we were able to overcome a lot of adversity and come very close to achieving our goals.


With some of the obstacles of this offseason and the CHL getting five new teams, how has it impacted what you are trying to do recruiting?

I believe it has actually helped our recruiting by giving us an opportunity to find out more about the character of the players we are signing or bringing to camp. Not knowing the financial details and other parts of the operations of the league just lets us know who wants to be a Mudbug no matter what.


You are bringing many of your core players, does that help during camp and beginning of the season because they know what to expect from them?

I think (and hope) that helps all year. Our year was a lot of fun last season and I would like to have many of those guys back again to try to win a championship. Although we try not to put as much emphasis on the beginning of the year, the familiarity does help guys get comfortable in their roles.

The Mudbugs have a former player in Jason Campbell now changing gears and moving into the front office as a GM, how do you think he will do in his new role and what from his playing days under you will help him lead the team off the ice?

Soupy has been, in a word, phenomenal. He is a great friend, father, husband and hockey guy. His transition to GM has been seamless and Mudbug Fans are going to be thrilled with what he brings to the table! I don't think he needs to take anything from me to lead this team off the ice, he is ready and prepared and passionate. Always has been, always will be.


Ken Carroll announced his retirement over the off-season, what has it been like coaching one of the best all time in the CHL and what will his absence mean to the team?

Kenny is one of those guys that made you love going to work because he was going to be there. He always competed so hard that he made everyone around him better every day. Kenny Carroll will certainly be missed and obviously there's no way that can be replaced in the locker room. We as a franchise will be honoring Kenny astonishing career this season as we learn to move forward into a new era without him.


The Mudbugs moved to the South or Berry Conference this season, does that change anything regarding your approach?

Well, let's see: More games against Allen, Texas, Laredo, Odessa, Rio Grande Valley and Arizona and we still have to battle Tulsa and Mississippi. My approach now contains more game film, more heart medication, more Tylenol and more work. This is going to be great fun every night.


What is the biggest challenge to having five new teams in the league that aren't scouted or known very well in the league?

I think the challenge remains the same with the new teams. You have tried to figure out quickly what works and what doesn't against some very good hockey teams. The difference is likely what the every game tendencies can't be a part of your pregame preparation; they are now a between-period adjustment. We are thrilled to have these teams in our league, and it's great to attack the 2010-2011 season.


Who has been the biggest influence on you and your coaching style?

When I started out (this was an easy one to answer) my father, Mike Johnston and Mike Kelly (who both went on to coach in the NHL) all gave me the desire to coach. Now I enjoy coaching in the CHL more every year. With the players and coaches that are in the league game in and game out, you're always learning something new that you didn't know the day before. That gives you the passion to stay competitive and keep improving.

Q&A with San Antonio Rampage Assistant Coach Jeff Truitt

Recently the San Antonio Rampage Website caught up with new Assistant Coach Jeff Truitt to talk about his arrival in Texas, his offseason, his relationship with Ray Edwards and previous experience here in the Alamo City.

In addition to the Q&A, the Rampage announced that in celebration of reaching 2000 followers on Facebook. Whenever the Rampage make their next player announcement, they will make it official on Facebook & Twitter to help celebrate.

San Antonio Rampage on Twitter

In addition to the Q&A, the Rampage have a video interview of Truitt that just hit the team website this morning.

Jeff Truitt Video Interview


Here's the Q&A from the San Antonio Rampage Website: http://www.sarampage.com/

Welcome to the Rampage! What are you looking forward to most next season?

Getting back to the American Hockey League and competing at a very high level. I am excited about working with Ray this year in San Antonio and supporting him in what he wants to do and the direction he wants to take the team. I knew a few of the players on the team so I am looking forward to that as well. I am really looking forward to come to San Antonio and to Texas.


Explain your background prior to joining the Rampage.

Last year I was the director of hockey operations for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League (WHL). I was basically the GM there. We were very fortunate to have two first round draft picks this year came out of Moose Jaw. Prior to the Warriors I spent two years in Springfield, Mass. with the Springfield Falcons (AHL). My first year was an assistant coach under Kelly Buchberger and my second year I served as head coach for the Falcons. Prior to my time with the Falcons I spent seven seasons with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL having been able to go to the Memorial Cup Three Times and winning a championship. Prior to that I was wrapping up my playing career in Scotland and different places along the way. It seems that my coaching career has been more progressive then my playing career but I still enjoy the competition.


How do you and Ray know each other?

I have known Ray... for about 12-15 years. We have always kept in touch over the years with coaching philosophies and bouncing things off of each other. I have also coached against Ray when he was here in San Antonio and when I was in Springfield. It's just one of these situations where you are comfortable with a person so he's not completely unfamiliar to me. He has great hockey knowledge, wants to be progressive and move this team forward and that's what I look forward to is helping him in pushing things forward so I was pretty excited about having this opportunity to coach with Ray.


What do you see as your role next season?

My number one role is to support Ray in whichever way he wants to go. He is the head coach so he will set the course. Whetever has to be done I will do. It doesn't matter to what duties he will dictate to me; I will do whatever is asked of me. I believe I will be working with the defensive core this year since that's what I have primarily done in the past and have had some pretty good success. I think it will be a good partnership.


What have you been doing this Summer? Any Fun Trips?

No fun trips yet. It's been a fairly busy summer coming out of the WHL there is always administrative things and player personnel that you have to do. We attended the NHL Draft in LA. We had our annual WHL Bantam Draft. We also had an import draft for players that are coming from overseas. All of that has to do investigating players to determine whether there are players that you need on your team or don't need on your team and trying to balance things out and determine whether you are going to pick a European player. We choose to pick a European Player this year so there is a lot of background work that needs to be done for that. Also the move down here has been a little hectic. We haven't taken a lot of trips this year but I imagine that on our trip down here to San Antonio we will stop at places along the way so we will get to have a little bit of fun doing that.


How do you like San Antonio so far?

Well I coached here when I was with the Falcons the one year that we came down here (2007-2008). My wife and I have been able to walk around the Riverwalk the last couple of days and went to the Alamo. We have always believed that no matter where we go we want to find out about the city. My wife is very passionate about that. I like San Antonio and the weather is nice. It is humid but we will get used to that. The heat doesn't bother us at all. From what I have seen it is a very beautiful city and a very energetic city and that's something we want to be a part of so we are excited about being here.

Q&A with Laredo Bucks Head Coach Terry Ruskowski

In the 2nd edition of "They Said It" Laredo Bucks Head Coach Terry Ruskowski did the CHL Q&A answering questions on topics from Characterizing last season, looking to get affiliated with the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the AHL's Houston Aeros to help with recruiting and to help improve the quality of players for the Bucks.

The last couple of years have been filed with playoff disappointments and teams that have been missing a critical piece or two to have a shot of winning the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Title.

Even though the Bucks have been a regular playoff team, the 2007-2008 season was the most successful when they won the Southeast Division Title then got within one win of the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship Series when they swept the Odessa Jackalopes in the Conference Semifinals then lost to the eventual champion Arizona Sundogs in the Southern Conference Final.

Here's the team's records over the last 3 seasons going back to the 2007-2008 season.

2007-2008 Season

Regular Season: 42-19-3 87 PTS, Southeast DIV. Title, 1st in Southern Conference

Playoffs: Conf. SFS Beat ODE 4-0, Conf Finals Lost to ARZ 4-3


2008-2009 Season

Regular Season: 36-23-5 77 PTS, 2nd in Southeast DIV, 3rd in Southern Conference

Playoffs: Conf. SFS Lost to ODE 4-2


2009-2010 Season

Regular Season: 32-20-12 76 PTS, 3rd in Southern Conference

Playoffs: Conf. SFS Lost to Allen 4-3

Here's some previous editions of "They Said It"

RG Valley Killer Bees Head Coach Chris Brooks

Rapid City Rush Head Coach Joe Ferras

Quad City Mallards Head Coach Frank Anzalone


Here's the Q&A

Looking back at last season, how would you characterize the play of your last team?

I think it was a real gutsy effort from my team. We went through a lot of adversity with J.P. Levasseur getting called up in December and never coming back down and we had a lot of injuries last season. There was one point during the season where I walked into our locker room and we had four guys on crutches wearing suits. I have to give the team a lot of credit, they played shorthanded quite a bit but came up large when we had to. The team showed a whole lot of heart and character and persevered to even get us to the playoffs and get the third seed was a huge credit to them and I'm really proud of their efforts.


You seemed to find a late season gem in Pier Pelletier, how good can he become and do you see anything in him that reminds you of some great goaltenders of the past for the Bucks?

When Pelletier first came in we didn't get a lot of ice time until January and we went with another goaltender. But once we got Pelletier the reigns back he drove this team in the right direction and played absolutely brilliant in the playoffs, just brilliant. I liked him so much that he was my first signing after the season was over. The kid has a very bright future, just not with us, but he has a very future ahead of him.


With the loss of the Corpus Christi Icerays in South Texas, the Bucks will have to the hit the road more then in past seasons, does this factor into the type of player you recruit knowing that road points are going to be so valuable?

Right now you try to recruit the best players possible at every position. Players always know that road points are tough to get and this season will be no different. I do like the road schedule was put together this season. We will have some rest between games on the road and I hope that makes a difference to pick up those points.


On the recruiting trail, you have found some hidden jewels in the past, who are you most excited about for this upcoming season?

I like Joe Scali out of Cornell. I've heard a lot of good things about him. He has good speed, he's physical. He scored in junior and at Cornell his defense was tremendous and he killed a ton of penalties. I like Kroger, the kid who played in the best league in Austria. He has good size, he skates really well and he's a guy that we are looking to contribute. There's a couple of others who we are looking at to make a difference.


Serge Dube returns to the team, what does he bring your club both on and off the ice?

Serge is a leader. He's a guy who's won championships with, he's a guy who smart with the puck and controls it very well. If anyone has troubles on the team they go to Serge and he gives them the right advice. He's coached the kid's here in Laredo the last couple of years and I think he knows what it takes to be a good coach and I know that he will be a huge factor for our team to get to the next level.


Although 8 of the 9 teams make it to the postseason, how important will it be to finish high in the conference for home ice advantage?

That's whats been a detriment to us the last two years is that we didn't have the home ice advantage against Odessa in 2009 or Allen last year. It really hurt us a lot not having home ice advantage in those two series. Our goal every season is to win every single game we play. We are going to play like we want every game and get as high in the standings as possible so we can get home ice. Having home ice is good for the players, the fans and the city of Laredo.


The Bucks and the Americans played a great series in last year's playoffs and Allen should have a good club again, how do you feel you match up with the defending conference champions?

I'm still not finished recruiting yet. We need to get better to match up with Allen, they had a very good team last year and should again this year. I'm hoping this season we will have fewer injuries so we can compete better. It's going to be a huge challenge in the league this year because there are so many good teams. If you don't play well then you are not going to win.


After coaching the Bucks for nearly a decade, how have the players changed over time?

I don't know if the players have changed a lot. I think they have more opportunities then they did before. Europe is always a good opportunity for the players. There are guys now who are just happy to be here and guys who want to work hard to get to the next level. I want the players who want to get to the next level on my team not the guys who are just happy to be here.


The Bucks have strong affiliations in the past with AHL and NHL clubs, what advantage did or didn't that give your team?

Recruiting wist it's a huge advantage. It gives players a chance to get called up more, and for us we will get good players sent to us. We are working a little bit with the Houston Aeros now where we are sending our guys to their camp. It's nice working with them, hopefully down the road we can get an affiliation with Houston.

Q&A with RGV Killer Bees Head Coach Chris Brooks

Recently the Central Hockey League sat down with Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Head Coach to get a feel of how the off-season was going after the team failed to make the playoffs by 4 points over the Corpus Christi Icerays who finished 5th in the South.

In three years with the Killer Bees, he's 62-51-15 with little playoff success, the last time the Killer Bees made the postseason was in 2009 where after winning the Play In, the Brahmas swept them in 4 games straight.

Look for more coaches interviews as the Central Hockey League does a segment called "They Said It". Other coaches coming up include Rapid City Rush Head Coach Joe Ferras.

Here's the Records from the last 3 seasons dating back to the 2007-2008 season.

2007-2008 Season

Regular Season: 16-41-7 39 PTS, Last in Southeast DIV, Last in Southern Conference

Playoffs: Didn't make Playoffs

2008-2009 Season

Regular Season: 35-24-5 73 PTS, 3rd in Southeast DIV, 4th in Southern Conference

Playoffs: Conf. Play In Beat CRP 2-1, Conf. SFS Lost to TEX 4-0

2009-2010 Season

Regular Season: 27-27-10 64 PTS, 6th Place in Southern Conference

Playoffs: Out of Playoffs

Here's the Q&A

How has the offseason been so far for you?

The offseason has been good. It has been very busy recruiting wise and doing a lot of the little things that are required to prepare for the upcoming season. As a coach you spend a lot of time on the phone networking and talking to agents and trying to find players that are the right fit for your team. Recruiting is a time consuming part of the job, as you have to be available to prospective players and their agents 24 hours a day. At the same point, it is necessary to have balance in your life and try your best to make time to relieve yourself from your job a bit.


What changes do you feel are necessary for the Bees for this season?

Reflecting on last season, I don't feel we were that far off. We had a lot of untimely injuries that really impacted our team at various points. Was I satisfied finishing 27-27-10? Definitely not, but at the same point our team battled right down to the end of the season. It's important to continue to build our team around the locker room and in order to do that you need players with character and drive and you need players who aspire to play hockey at the highest level that you can possibly play at.

It is critical for us to be a team that other teams in the league hate to play, whether it is at home or on the road. Other teams need to know exactly what they are going to get when they play us every night. Other teams need know that we are going to compete and be tenacious from start to finish. In order to achieve that we have added size and grit to our blueline in signing Kyle Radke, Karl Medernach, Kirk Medernach, Matt Smyth and Rob Cowan.


As a Head Coach, what did you learn the most from your first year to second year in RGV?

I have learned so much about myself and a person and a coach through my time in Rio Grande Valley. My biggest strength as a coach is the ability to teach. In order for me to teach, I feel we need players that want to learn. We need players that put the team first and will do anything asked of them. If we can get a group like that we will have a team. If you have a team that works towards a common goal, you can have success. I want to surround myself with players that are not satisfied playing in the CHL. I have also learned that this is a business. You have to make decisions best for the team and the organization, and put personal feelings that you have for players aside. Sometimes that is difficult to do.


You have signed size and toughness, are you changing the focus and game plan for the team this season?

My focus and game plan for the team this upcoming season has not changed. I have just been fortunate that the players that I have pursued to come play in Rio Grande Valley have size and toughness. Now the goal is continue to build with some skilled players around what we have signed.


You obviously think highly of character players and those who play both ways (I.E. Mcclellan and Lee). What do those type of players mean for your hockey team?

Charcter is one of my key priorities that I look in for my players. The Players I bring here are a reflection of our owner, our front office and me. I have been fortunate over my two seasons in Rio Grande Valley to have a lot of great character players. Two of those players, Zac Mclellan and Aaron Lee characterize the type of players I want to coach. The approach every single day like is their last, they are coachable, hungry and unbelievable team guys that will do anything for the best of the team. They are great in the community and in the locker room and they make coaching rewarding and enjoyable.


The Bees and Bucks will meet a bunch of times during the regular season, how big is that rivalry and do you think of the recruiting, players that match up well against the Bucks?

Our rivalry with Laredo plays a key role in our success. Terry Ruskowski is one of the most successful coaches in minor pro hockey and you know his team will be ready to play every night. They are well coached and well prepared. In return that is why it is so important for us to be even better prepared. Terry is a coach that gets the most out of his players and heading into the season, we know that the 16 games we play against Laredo will be battles.


The fans support the Killer Bees is so steady, what has been the trick in keeping them on the edge of their seats?

Our fans are unbelievable. When I left Western Michigan in 2008, the org, the front office, and the fans are the big reason why I took this job. Our owner and front office staff do an unbelievable job entertaining and making the fans experience an enjoyable one. At the same time, the fans and our organization, making Rio Grande Valley a great place for our players to play. Our front office staff is very creative and the corporate and community support continues to grow.


What are your thoughts on the CHL's Playoff Format with 16 of 18 teams making the playoffs, would you be offended to be the 8th team in the Conference?

I knew this was going to be asked! I have been asked so many times since this decision was made. I think this is the cleanest way for the CHL to set up the playoffs. If we went to 12 of 16 teams making the post season, people would have criticized it. Setting up the playoffs is a no win situation. Some will like it some won't. I support the decision. Regardless of how many teams make the playoffs, my goal as a coach to approach the season game by game and our focus is to improve every single day in pursuit of a championship.

Phone Interview with SA Rampage Head Coach Ray Edwards & Player Profiles

Yesterday, I had an interesting conservation with San Antonio Rampage Head Coach Ray Edwards to talk about the offseason, players coming back, looking to get to the playoffs and looking to make San Antonio a strong hockey city.

It was a conservation after he recently made him from the Interim to Full Time Head Coach a couple of weeks ago after he had a strong turnaround of 30-23-9 in 59 games coached after he took over the team just after Thanksgiving last year. Being one of the youngest coaches in the league where he's barley 40 years old and is looking to est. himself to help turnaround the Rampage org. that hasn't either won a division or won a playoff series at the very least.

With the transactions they have made like bringing in Matt Climie and Garrett Stafford, as well as keeping players like Al Montoya should make the Rampage a very dangerous team in the West Division with teams like Houston who's looking to get stronger, defending Conference Champion Texas Stars and the Chicago Wolves who won the West Division and was looking to be a serious contender for the Calder Cup before Texas knocked them out in 7 Games during the West Division Final.

San Antonio Rampage Website

Rampage Goaltender Duo of Climie & Montoya

San Antonio is setting themselves up in a strong position with Matt Climie who had a strong season for Texas and backup Al Montoya who only played 14 Games last year still had .904 SV% and a 2.65 GAA and has still proved to be a strong goaltender at the AHL Level who at only 25, is still thought as a contender to be a regular in the NHL in the near future.

Edwards likes them both and they should be a strong competition to be the starter and it will be close he said. If San Antonio is going to be a division title contender and go far in the playoffs, this will be a huge part of that which should end the team's playoff & division title drought.

Team Philosophy

The Team philosophy he told me is two fold and it's actually quite simple, develop players to play in the NHL and to win at this level. After clinching a playoff spot, the team needs to focus on not just making the postseason, but to fight for the highest seed possible to at least reach home ice advantage for the early rounds and to be the most competitive as possible.

He also mentioned that winning is a part of development where winning will become a regular thing and when players reach the NHL (In this case, the Phoenix Coyotes) that the winning should take care of it self if they work hard, play hard and keep a strong attitude in the locker room.

Edwards also wasn't surprised with the Coyotes success despite the rumors of the team's bankrucpty and possible relocation would not be excuses. Now its their turn to get back to the playoffs and have the similar success to get to the playoffs and possibly have a shot at the Calder Cup in the near future.

On Chris Brown suiting up

Chris Brown was brought up as he's currently #6 in the Hockey's Future Phoenix Coyotes Prospect Ratings. He feels that he's not going to cave in to the pressure of bringing him in on a late season ATO (Amateur Tryout Deal) to make him the first Texan Player to suit up in a pro hockey game.

He does feel they will be extra pressure from both fans & media if he has another strong season and makes the US Junior National Team this year. He wants to show that he is his strong willed and that he will make the best decisions possible for the teams.

However, he does realize that excitement and it's something that moment is coming up faster then what a lot of people realize after he saw some impressive moments at the Phoenix Coyotes Prospect Camp earlier this summer.

Edwards thinks that he should stay in school and probably wait till at least next year to make the jump, but he told me don't be surprised to maybe bring him in the form of a late season ATO Deal to see where he is in his development. If he makes the World Junior Team, that possibility would jump big time.

Turning around a culture of losing

The biggest thing that he feels that he needs to help do is turn around a culture of losing that is preserved from fans and media in the San Antonio Area. Not a single Division Title or Playoff Series Victory will do that to you.

He felt the Phoenix Coyotes did the first major step by proving everyone wrong with the Coyotes finishing 4th before losing to Detroit in the Conference Quarterfinals, now it's his turn to do it at the AHL Level.

Get the players to believe that both of these things are possible and his immediate success by going 30-23-9 in his 59 games also is starting to get everyone involved more excited in the team. It makes going to the rink better and more enjoyable when everyone in the team has a great at and looking to do a lot more winning starting next season.

Team Rivalries

With the Texas Stars doing so well in their first year and the Oklahoma City Barons joining this year. Edwards is excited about the rivalries that are building in the Southwest to help create more interest and more fans to see their hometown teams and future NHL Players.

He still has a feeling that Houston is the team's biggest rival because of how long the team has been in the league.

Even though he's starting to get pumped up about the Texas Stars in Austin coming into the league and wants to help create more interest by helping to promote trips to both Austin & Houston to see them play on the road.

Staying in San Antonio

Right now he wants to stay in San Antonio at least for a while, he wants to make the Rampage a power in the AHL and help the sport gain a stronger presence in South Texas.

Edwards does mention that after building some success, that he would maybe have a shot of coaching in the NHL. He would like to see a lot of his former players succeed in the NHL and look to win the AHL Calder Cup and build some great memories for a long time and start a new era of success for the Rampage.

Away from the Rink

He still gets a few laughs when he tells people that he coaches the Rampage, but they becoming fewer and more infrequent inbetween with the number of teams. Edwards told me that some of his friends in Canada & Northern USA are starting to get more respect when he tells him of the success of the Professional Clubs plus the rise of Junior Hockey in the in the Southwest (Especially with the NAHL).

He also wants to help make San Antonio a bigger hockey city by supporting people that will build more rinks and getting involved to people help to learn how to skate and get more people introduced into playing hockey

With Texas being a big football state, he would love to have the opportunity to see some of the bigger NFL & College Football Linemen try to skate and lug their body around. This comes from a great story he told when he was friends with some of the players with the Marshall University Football Team during his ECHL Days.

Q&A with San Antonio Rampage Head Coach Ray Edwards

Dan Weiss who's the San Antonio Rampage Play-By-Play Man recently did a Q&A with the man who was recently named the new full time head coach after a successful stint as the team's Interim Head Coach for the 2nd half of last season.

In this Q&A, he talks about becoming the new full time head coach, The Teams focus going into the 2010-2011 season and the team's strong points and where they need to improve to get the Rampage back to the playoffs.

In addition to the Q&A, he also did a video off-season update as well.

Rampage Video

Here's the Q&A from the San Antonio Rampage Website


How does it feel to be back with the Rampage again this season?

When they told me I was excited, my family was excited. That was ultimately the goal. and hoping all along that would be the decision. We did a lot of good things last year and I learned a lot of things from last season. This is a great opportunity for us to build off the last 60 games.


What will be your focus next season?

The Organizational philosophy is simple. We have to develop players here and we have to win. They go hand-in-hand. If we develop players well here we will have success. With some of the moves in the off-season, assuming players we have signed will be in San Antonio, goaltending looks strong with Matt Climie and Al Montoya. We signed some veteran defensemen with Nolan Yonkman and Garrett Stafford joining the organization and I am excited for them to help us out in the process of developing the young players we have coming in.

We also have a good young crop of defensemen coming in as well as some guys from last year's group that are in the mix so we will have a lot of competition in the backend for defensemen. The forwards are coming together too. There are some guys we have signed that could definitely be in Phoenix and the Coyotes are still a guy or two away from where they need to be. What is all said and done we will have a good group down here and we have to make them better every day. We want to have a good environment for them to succeed. If we do these two things I think we can win.

We haven't been in the playoffs the last two years and we need to get back there. Ultimately if we do a good job developing these players and give them an environment that they can succeed in then at the end of the season we will be competing for a championship. Both the Coyotes and the Spurs are proud organizations and have seen success in the post season so we need to follow suit. We need to start building a history of success.

What do you think Jeff Truitt will bring to the coaching staff?

Jeff has a lot of experience. He not only has experience as a former player but also a ton of great coaching experience too. He has won a Memorial Cup as an assistant coach, which is a very difficult championship to win, and took them back to the Final as a Head Coach. People don't realize how tough it is to just reach the Memorial Cup let alone win one so he definitely has the experience from a winning standpoint.

He's been in the AHL for a couple of years and knows the dynamic of development and knows the league. He understands the issues we deal from a travel standpoint. There won't be too many things we throw at Jeff that will stump him. He has seen everything. He has developed some really good defensemen. guys like Shea Weber in Nashville. He knows the game very well; he is a really hard worker and a good family guy. Those are all good traits that we looked
for when putting our coaching staff together.

What do you think of Don Maloney winning the NHL's GM of the Year Award?

Don and Dave Tippett are deserving of their respective awards. No on else on earth gave them a chance to succeed last year. It started off right in training camp. Dave wasn't there for training camp so we didn't have a head coach but give credit to Ulf Samuelsson, Sean Burke and Doug Sulliman because they got things done.

The message was very clear when we got there that this would not be a distraction and they were no excuses. The players really took it upon themselves to prove people wrong. They knew what kind of group they had and what they were capable of. Dave did an excellent job of getting the focus narrowed and getting the job done. Now the challenge is building off of that. It's the same down here. I feel that last year we did a lot of good things but it wasn't good enough and we have to better this year.

What will be the Rampage's strong points this season?

Goaltending and defense. That's the way you build the team. That is the way I believe in building a team. That's the way Brad and Don believe in building a good team. Look at Phoenix, they have arguably one of the best goaltenders in the league and we are in a good situation here in San Antonio with Al Montoya and Matt Climie joining the team next season. I think we have the makings of a top tandem. The additions of Garrett Stafford and Nolan Yonkman give us a nice core. David Schlemko will push to be in Phoenix but if he is with us he will add a lot to our team. We have a lot of guys in the mix that we may not see but we have a lot of depth which is nice.

What will be the areas to work on for the Rampage next season?

Our Special Teams were good last year but that has to be the key this year as well. It is something that we will look to continue to build on. We have to defend better. There were times last year that we defended very well but we need to keep the puck out of net and have to be a team that keeps the goals against down. That will be an area we must improve on. We want to be known as a team that is so hard to play against and that we are relentless and never quit. We want to be a team that when opponents come in here they dread playing against us. With the group that we have going into next season we should put the puck into the net and will continue to find new and creative ways to do that.

Creating offense is a neat dynamic. We will be a simple team from a structure standpoint but it's the details within that structure. Then it comes down the attitude, the effort and the energy and we have a leadership group that will help drive the message.

What have you been doing this summer? Any Fun Trips?

This summer I have spent a lot of time hanging out with the kids. We took a trip up north for three weeks. My wife and I got away for a couple of days and left the kids with her mom and dad. I also attended the development camp in Phoenix. It was fun because it was the first time I was able to run the camp so I really enjoyed that. The next six weeks will be preparing for the season and narrowing down what the group is going to look like. But of course I will continue to have some family time and do some fun things with the kids because once the season starts that part really goes away.