HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-06-23, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2005. PAGE 9.
Coulter retires after 20 years in hockey
By Jim Brown
Citizen staff
After 20 years as a hockey coach
and/or general manager. Steve
Coulter of Brussels has decided to
retire.
The last four years have been
spent as the general manager of the
Wingham Ironmen of the Western
Junior C Hockey League.
The four years under Coulter’s
guidance, especially the past two
seasons, have been successful ones
for the Ironmen. Depending on who
one talks to, that success is either the
result of Coulter’s knowledge of the
game and where to find players, or it
was because of the coaching.
The coaching staff, headed by
Louie Livingston and the executive
guided by president Bill McGrath
believe it was Coulter’s knowledge
of where the players are and brining
them to the Ironmen that was the key
to the success of the Ironmen.
Coulter, himself, believes it was
the coaching staff and the players
that were the reason for the team’s
success.
When he was selected as the
general manager of the Ironmen, he
told the executive he had a three-
year plan that would take them to the
league championship - something
the Ironmen had not won in a
number of seasons.
The year before Coulter came on
as general manager, the Ironmen had
only managed about eight wins, and
were eliminated in the first round of
playoffs. Matt MacPhee was a
member of that team five seasons
ago, and the feisty forward could
return for his sixth season as an
Ironmen in 2005-06 if the coaching
staff decides to keep him as one of
the three over-age players.
“It was going to be a three-year
project,” said Coulter.
He believes the team’s record over
the past four season speaks for itself
- well over .500.
“We made a tew changes over
those years, “ Coulter said.
“The three-year goal was to win
the league championship,” he said.
“We’ve done that the past two
years.”
“Everything after that is a bonus.”
Although it would have been nice
to win the Clarence Schmalz Trophy,
Coulter said he is not really
disappointed as the team did win the
league.
One of the reasons he is stepping
down is that being a general
manager, even at the Junior C level,
is a 12-months of the year job.
“It is really a lot of work when the
team makes the playoffs,” he said.
“You have to find the calibre of
players that are leaving the team
Coulter believes the 2005-06 team
may be stronger than the season just
completed as there is more ot a core
group of players' remaining.
During his 20 years as a coach and
general manager he has been
involved with Brussels minor
hockey, the defunct Brussels Bulls,
the Owen Sound Junior B Greys and
the Junior B Listowel Cyclones.
As a team manager, he got to see a
lot of hockey games at various levels
and through his association with
other teams he came in contact with
many players.
By following a player's progress
and keeping in contact with them.
Coulter was able to bring some of
those players to the Ironmen over the
past few seasons.
One player that comes to mind is
netminder Jason Blinkhorn.
“Blinky was the number one
goalie for the Ironmen (the last two
seasons),” stated Coulter. “Kurt
(Edwards) did a real good job for us
at the beginning of last season, but I
believe he stepped up his game by
learning from Jason the year before.”
Coulter encourages more young
players to try out for their local
junior hockey team.
“Sometimes they think they
cannot make it, but if they just keep
persisting no one knows what can
happen," he said.
Some of the more persistent
players the Ironmen have seen over
the past few years are Jason
Blinkhorn, Jamie Chester and Zack
O’Krafka. Coulter adds there have
also been others.
He believes the Ironmen s success
over the past years is due in part to
the coaching staff which has been
able to work together It was also due
to bringing in players who the
coaching staff could work with, and
who were willing to listen to the
coaches.
“I would like to thank the Ironmen
executive for letting me do my |oh
for the past four years,” said Coulter,
adding some junior hockey team
executives don’t let their managers
do the jobs they were hired to do.
“Twenty years is a long time to
spend as a (hockey) manager and
coach. 1 believe it’s time for u
break,’’ he said.
Although he has no plans at the
present time on how to fill this extra
time he will have, he does plan to
spend more time with his wife, Julie.
“I will go and watch some hockey
games, on my time,” stated Coulter.
After the past four years, he will
have a special place in his heart for
the Ironmen.
Thunder rumbles across Clinton
Half of the soccer season has
already been completed and the
Blyth Thunder U-13s are still
undefeated. This team is coached by
Pete Uyl and Hillie Van Amersfoort.
Players are Danielle Bean, Colin
Bokhout, Courtney Bos, Andre Egli,
Aryn Kikkert, Jillian Kikkert,
Stephanie Monk, Jesse Pot, Austin
Sjaarda, Ryan Sjaarda, Mathew
Steele, Trevor Tyler, Alanna Uyl,
Hannah Uyl, Laura Younglbut, and
Mark Siertsema.
On Thursday, May 12, Thunder
was up against the Blyth Flames. A.
Sjaarda opened the scoring with Pot
assisting. Youngblut got her first
goal on a penalty shot. A. Sjaarda
and Pot connected again, making the
score 3-0. The fourth goal saw Pot
scoring and A. Sjaarda assisting.
Youngblut received her second goal
of the night with A. Uyl and A.
Sjaarda assisting. The Flames then
scored making the final score 5-1 for
the Thunder's first win.
Steele was the netkeeper.
Thursday, May 19 the U-13s came
up against Clinton I. Twenty minutes
into the game Egli scored with an
assist coming from Bos and Pot. Ten
minutes later Bokhout received an
unassisted goal.
The second half saw Monk
assisting the third goal, which was
scored by Youngblut. Pot got the
next goal on a penalty shot.
The final goal of the night came
from A. Sjaarda with Egli assisting.
Steele got his first shutout with
several awesome saves in the game.
The final score was 5-0.
Thursday, May 26, the Thunder
played against Clinton II. The first
half saw A. Sjaarda scoring with
Egli and Youngblut assisting. A. Uyl
got her first goal, with Egli and Pot
assisting.
In the second half, Bokhout got
the third goal, assisted by A.
Sjaarda. A. Sjaarda and pot assisted
on Youngblut’s fourth goal. Bokhout
dominated in the time remaining by
getting the next four goals. Assists
went to Egli and A. Sjaarda with
two.
Steele and Youngblut were the
netkeepers. This was the Thunder’s
second shutout, an 8-0 victory.
Thursday, June 2, the Thunder
played Clinton III. Bokhout got an
unassisted goal early in the game.
Ten minutes later A. Uyl got a
beautiful pass from Pot, to score the
second goal. Bokhout scored the
third goal on a great pass from J.
Kikkert.
Clinton then scored on a penalty
kick.
Steele and Youngblut were both
solid netkeepers.
Siertsema, Bean, Egli and R.
Sjaarda played a strong defensive
game keeping the score at a 3-1 win.
Thursday, June 9 saw the Thunder
defeat Clinton IV. A. Sjaarda scored
early in the game with Pot and Bean
assisting. Six minutes later, Pot
scored, with Egli assisting. Less than
10 minutes later A. Uyl scored, with
Egli’s assist, making the score at the
Continued on Page 10
Retiring
After 20 years as a hockey coach and manager, including
the last four as the general manager of the Wingham
Ironmen, Steve Coulter of Brussels has decided to call it a
career. He plans to spend more time with wife Julie and go
to hockey games on his time. (Jim Brown photo)
Play day
Blyth Public School held
its play day last Friday
afternoon. Students from
kindergarten through to
Grade 3 took part in a
variety of competitions.
Zoe Bieman takes part in
one of the events. (Jim
Brown photo)
MUNICIPALITY OF
HURON EAST
NOTICE
The Council of the Municipality of Huron East hereby gives notice
that Council at their regular meeting on June 28th, 2005 will
consider the following:
a) amendments to the 2005 Budget (8:00 p.m.)
b) the repeal of By-Law 40-2004 and the establishment of new
fees for planning applications (8:15 p.m.)
Information concerning the above is available at the Municipal
Office (72 Main Street South, Seaforth (527-0160)) or on the web
site (www.huroneast.com)
J.R. McLachlan
Clerk-Administrator
Sponsored by the Municipality of Huron ELast
FRIDAY, JULY 1st'
AT DARK
Seaforth Agricultural
Society Grounds
Donations being collected
($1O per carload)
Special thanks to the Seaforth
Agricultural Society for allowing
the use of their property.
For more info, call
527-0160
or 1-888-868-5713
Please bring your lawn chairs