Quote:
Originally Posted by junior
It might be ballsy, but it may cost him the respect of the hockey team as well. Stuff like this works in bantam, can't see it working in the pro's. Ward is a guy who never really played a high level of hockey as it is, so it is probably tough getting the respect of your players as it is aside from pulling a stunt like that. Never met the guy but seems like a real ###### judging by his interviews.
|
From all the interviews I've heard, the players absolutely love him and respect the hell out of him. To me, his interviews are actually somewhat intelligent as opposed to most hockey interviews. He actually says things of meaning in his interviews. He may seem arrogant, and I suppose that could be interpreted as being an A-hole, but I'll disagree with you on that one. He's the type of coach that is phenomenal at thinking through the game and relaying/conveying/articulating his observations to the players.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaybird
Hmmm......Yes the "ballsy" move is something that maybe shouldn't be bragged about! I know I am going to get flack for this but I am not sold on Ward. Hopefully I am wrong but I think he may have had some good luck and the real work is going to have to start so lets see hope we some "smart" ballsy moves. Too much talking and blah, blah, blah stuff. I dont care, I just want to see the team keep improving and developing the young guys. I guess I could google this but am feeling lazy, was Ward a hockey player? Where has his experience come from? Plus Laing has a concussion so was he really "denied access". Just a question......?
|
I don't mind these types of moves by Ward. In this situation he spoke about "internal fuel" vs. "external fuel", explaining that players with "external fuel" (who need to seek motivation to play the game of hockey) aren't going to make it very far in hockey. He said that night that those players did not display "internal fuel" so he sat them.
As far as his playing career, he didn't play hockey very much. In fact, he only played two full CJHL seasons. I don't think his hockey smarts come so much from his playing career, but more from his extensive coaching career. Watching hockey can be just as important towards gaining experience.