UNews - Mike Babcock

Champions' Legacy

david.kirby — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 23:34:18 +0000

While the banner that hangs in the rafters of Nicholas Sheran Arena pays tribute to the accomplishments of the 1994 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s hockey team, the true legacy of that group of young men is still being realized today.

With as many as 15 players and coaches from the U of L’s first national championship team contributing to hockey from the Timbit level all the way to the National Hockey League, the tangible impact of that special season cannot be captured by a dusty piece of cloth.

Pronghorns Alumni Brad Dersch, Perry Neufeld, Peter Rajcic, Dino Caputo and Ryan Christie during practice.

“I think of all the things I learned from Mike that year and the importance of never forgetting where you came from and what it means to be a part of a community was right near the top,” says former Pronghorn David LeGrandeur (BA/BEd '00, MEd '10) on his then head coach, Mike Babcock, now the bench boss of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.

“You look at all the guys from our team, and then from many of the teams that followed, who are involved with hockey at the grassroots level and it’s remarkable.”

Perry Neufeld (BSc '01) was in his fourth year when the Horns embarked on their championship run, now celebrating its 20th anniversary. He’d been on teams that finished last in the conference and had never advanced to playoffs, but he said those struggles steeled him and his teammates and prepared them for success. Now, coaching with a group that includes four other Horns alumni, he looks to pass those lessons on.

“For me, coaching is about having a good perspective, being grounded and making sure the kids are having fun and learning to love the game of hockey,” says Neufeld, a senior development manager for an Alberta-based real estate developer and coach for both his son and daughter. “It’s not so much about the skills of being a better hockey player, it’s also the lifelong values that they are going to carry forward in terms of hard work, dedication, perseverance, commitment and working as a team. Hockey is the medium to pass along some of these values to children.”

Babcock is now a two-time Olympic gold medal-winning coach for Team Canada and Stanley Cup champion, and the highest profile name from that 1994 group. However, his method for success and ability to see the bigger picture has not wavered.

“Mike Babcock has not changed one bit from 1994 to 2014. He spoke about his family the same way in 1994 as he does today,” says alumnus Peter Rajcic (BA/BEd '96), a middle school teacher who currently coaches with a group of four Horns alumni at both the novice and atom levels.

“He found a way for us to commit to his program and to believe in ourselves and I know it’s been a part of all of us in regards to following through and making the most of what we were intended to do in our lives, both in hockey and outside of hockey.”

LeGrandeur has been coaching for five years and currently is involved in both novice and atom programs. A school principal, LeGrandeur sees himself as a teacher as much as he is a coach. Ironically, it is the same way that Babcock has always described himself.

“When I read his book, one of the things he talks about is that he and his wife are raising difference makers and he brings that to everything he does,” says LeGrandeur. “I had never really thought about it until I read it but that’s what I’m trying to do too.”

Success, says LeGrandeur, can be determined in many different ways, but he recognizes something special came out of that 1994 team – something far greater than the trophy that was won and the banner that was raised.

“I think everyone on that team has become successful in whatever they are doing beyond hockey, and finding a way to make an impact on their community – that says something.”

And our communities are better for it.

Anastas rounds out Horns men's coaching staff

trevor.kenney — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:20:48 +0000

Beginning a new era of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorn men’s hockey, first-year head coach Spiros Anastas has rounded out his staff for the 2014-15 Canada West season by adding assistant coach Sean Gillam, athletic therapist/equipment manager Brennan Mahon, director of hockey operations Jesse Hale, and strength and conditioning coach Austin Davenport.

A Lethbridge native, Gillam joins the program with more than 10 years of coaching and scouting experience, serving as an assistant coach in the ECHL and CHL with the Jackson Bandits and Rio Grande Killer Bees.

The former Detroit Red Wings draft pick was also the head coach of the Fayetteville FireAntz in the SPHL and most recently worked as a scout for the Victoria Royals (WHL).

“It is exciting to be adding a coach of Sean's caliber to our program,” says Anastas. “Sean's extensive experience in recruiting and player development will be a huge asset for us. His professional coaching and playing background is impressive, and having played for two familiar hockey colleagues, Mike Babcock in Spokane and Glen Merkosky during his time in the Red Wings organization, makes him a perfect fit.”

Mahon comes to the ‘Horns with extensive CIS experience working with both Mount Royal ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta hockey teams. Most recently he worked in professional football with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Mahon earned his bachelor of physical education from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, his athletic therapy diploma from Mount Royal and is certified through the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association.

“We are pleased to be adding Brennan to our staff in a much needed position,” says Anastas. “Brennan's experience in all sports gives him a variety of talents and skills required to help us in daily operations and keep our student-athletes healthy; he is a great young professional and I am excited to work with him.”

No stranger to the Pronghorn hockey program, Hale returns to the team after a year hiatus. Hale served as the team’s equipment manager for six seasons and will rejoin the program with an expanded role. An alumnus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, he works as the regional coordinator for Hockey Alberta.

“Jesse has been critical in the program's transition between coaches and has added great value over the years,” says Anastas. “He has played a big part in identifying talent and getting me acclimated to the workings of the CIS game.”

Also returning to the program is former Pronghorn Austin Davenport, who will be working solely with the men’s team as the strength and conditioning coach. Davenport played with the ‘Horns from 2007-11 and suited up for 83 games in four years with the team.

“Having someone who is familiar with the needs of a hockey player and our program will benefit us greatly,” says Anastas. “As a Pronghorn alumnus, Austin cares deeply for our success and has shown excellent commitment to building programs and models for the optimal health and fitness of our student-athletes.”

Former Horns coach Peters earns head job with Carolina Hurricanes

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 22:04:54 +0000

Former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey coach Bill Peters achieved a career goal today after being named the new head coach of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes.

Peters joins Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock as former Horns coaches who have progressed to the NHL.

Peters's first head coaching experience came with the Pronghorns, when he led the program from 2002 through 2005. Over that time, his teams compiled a 17-59-8 record and one made post-season appearance.

Following his stint in Lethbridge, Peters moved on to the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, where he spent three seasons. In 2008, Peters led the Chiefs to the 2008 Memorial Cup Championship. During his time in Spokane he fashioned a record of 111-82-23 and set franchise records for wins in a season, with 50, and points, with 107.

Peters acquired his first professional coaching position following his stint in Spokane, earning the head coaching job with the Chicago Blackhawks' top affiliate, Rockford Ice Hogs. He led the Ice Hogs to consecutive 40-win seasons and two playoff appearances.

Peters then reunited with Babcock (they previously coached together in Spokane when Peters served as Babcock's assistant) as an assistant coach with the Red Wings where he served in that role for the past three seasons.

New Horns head coach eager for opportunity

trevor.kenney — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:45:02 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s hockey coach, Spiros Anastas, will enjoy two honeymoons this summer, and if things go as planned, the honeymoon bliss will last far into the future.

The Pronghorns present the first head coaching assignment for Anastas.

Anastas, hired as the program’s ninth head coach, has a lot on his plate throughout the summer months. He’s moving across both a continent and a border, and is assuming two new roles simultaneously, that of husband to Lindsay and head coach of the Horns.

“We’re extremely excited, it’s going to be a busy summer but we’re excited to come back to Canada and the opportunity that we have here in Lethbridge,” says Anastas.

What the rookie coach lacks in experience, he more than makes up in pedigree, having been introduced to the program by mentors and former Pronghorns coaches Mike Babcock and Bill Peters. Babcock is the current head coach of the Detroit Red Wings and Peters one of his assistants. Anastas has been working with the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids for the past two seasons.

“Right away they had nothing but good things to say about the U of L and credit this institution with basically jump-starting their careers,” says Anastas. “That’s a testament to the hockey program and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as a whole, that two guys at that level really believe in this place and think it is somewhere that can have a lot of success.”

Looking back on both the Babcock and Peters eras at the U of L, it would have been hard to project their coaching arcs, given they were both unproven when they came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Anastas is now where they once were, ready for his opportunity to be the lead man of his own program.

“I look forward to the challenge because it’s my chance to do it on my own and really show people what I’ve got,” he says.

Anastas is up front about the task he has inherited. The Horns won just 4 of 28 games last season in Canada West play and have qualified for the playoffs just once in the past five years. Describing himself as detail oriented, Anastas sees a program in need of a culture change.

Anastas has hit the ground running, meeting with media, players and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community in his first few days on campus.

“I’ve worked for a lot of different types of coaches and I like to think I’m a transformational coach and that’s getting a new belief system in place,” he says. “I believe in the process. I don’t coach to outcome, I coach the process. You can win a 2-1 hockey game and the process be terrible, so over a long period of time that’s going to catch up with you.”

His philosophy on recruiting for the program begins not on the road, but internally.

“The first step in recruiting is identifying what you have right here. The players are your best recruiters and if they are enjoying their experience, more will come,” he says. “My message to the guys who are already here is, remember what got you to the WHL, remember what got you drafted and what gave you success, what got you recruited to come here. They all have the ability. We have some very capable and accomplished players on the roster and this is their chance to hit the reset button.”

Anastas had the opportunity to work with Babcock, Peters and the entire Red Wings’ coaching staff during development camps and prospects tournaments, but says the bulk of his learning came off the ice.

“The best part for me was the after-hours part, when you’re sitting at the restaurant or at the hotel evaluating the day,” he says. “Just to be able to have those hockey conversations with them has been extremely beneficial to me as a young coach. The surprising thing to me is that they are always learning as well.”

Anastas describes conversations where Babcock would elicit his opinion on some of the work they were doing.

“I’m thinking, why is he asking a second year coach for an opinion? He might not even take it but he likes to hear what’s out there, what’s in young minds, what’s the new thing,” says Anastas. “That’s why he has maintained his success because he’s always learning, adapting and changing, and that’s the number one thing I’ve learned from him.”

Will it be enough to garner Anastas long-term success behind the Horns’ bench? Like marriage, only time will tell.

Horns tap Red Wings organization for new men's hockey coach

trevor.kenney — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:54:40 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns Athletics has named Spiros Anastas as the new head coach of the men’s hockey program, the eighth in team history.

Spiros Anastas becomes the program's eighth head coach.

“It’s an exciting time for Pronghorns men’s hockey, it’s hard not to get excited by the enthusiasm and vision of excellence Spiros brings to the program,” says Executive Director of Sports and Recreation, Sandy Slavin. “He’ll be building on the strengths of the program and taking advantage of the opportunities that are out there. He is a highly motivated individual who brings a strong coaching skill set to our program and is coming from an organization that prides itself on developing a winning program; he’s looking forward to bringing that attitude to the Pronghorns.”

Anastas, originally from Toronto, Ont., is presently an assistant coach with the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins, the top affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Currently in his second season behind the Griffins bench, Anastas started with the Griffins as the team’s analytics and advanced scouting coach and helped the Griffins to the Western Conference and Calder Cup Championship in 2013.

“I am honoured to be joining the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge hockey team, and look forward to starting my career as a head coach,” says Anastas. “Through the first five years of my career I have been fortunate to work under some great men like Andy Murray and Jeff Blashill. Furthermore, the accessibility of Mike Babcock and his staff in Detroit has been beneficial to my development."

Babcock, of course, is the program's most noted former head coach. He led the Pronghorns to their lone Canada West title and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup national championship during his only season with the program in 1993-94. He has since gone on to win a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings and has led the Canadian men's team to two Olympic gold medals.

Meanwhile, current Red Wings assistant coach Bill Peters was also the head coach of the Pronghorns men’s hockey program from 2002 to 2005. Peters went on to win a Memorial Cup with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League and is in his third season in Detroit.

Anastas has had the opportunity to work closely with the Red Wings during his time in Grand Rapids, serving as an assistant coach during the Red Wings development camps and NHL Prospects tournament.

Prior to joining the Griffins, Anastas served as the general manager of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL).

A former player with Lebanon Valley College, NCAA division III, Anastas began his coaching career with his alma mater, serving as an assistant coach during the 2010-11 season, before moving on to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Michigan. While there, he served as an assistant coach and video coordinator, working under former NHL head coach Andy Murray. During his only season with the Broncos, Anastas helped the team win only its second CCHA Championship in the program’s history and earn a NCAA tournament berth.

“I am excited to put all I have learned to work with the Pronghorns hockey team," he says. "The level of competition in the CIS, and especially Canada West, is high and we definitely have a challenge ahead of us. Getting the wheels in motion right away is a priority and I am confident in the support I'll receive from both the school and the Horns alumni as we rebuild this program.”

Anastas will fulfill his duties with the Griffins this season, remaining with the team until the completion of the American Hockey League regular season and playoffs. The Griffins sit atop the Midwest Division with 94 points.

“This is an exciting time for Pronghorns hockey as we look to the future," adds Anastas. "My fiancée, Lindsay, and I look forward to joining and being heavily involved in the Lethbridge community. I thank Sandy Slavin and the committee members for entrusting me with this program and the hard work they put forth throughout the entire process."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge men’s hockey coaches
Dave McDowall (1984-1989)
Dave Adolph (1989-1993)
Mike Babcock (1993-94) – ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup Champions
Ron Kraft (1994-97)
Dean Holden (1997-98)
Doug Irwin (1998-2002)
Bill Peters (2002-2005)
Greg Gatto (2005-2014)
Spiros Anastas (2014-present)

Horns headed to Hall

trevor.kenney — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:34:19 +0000

It was a magical run for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns 1994 men's hockey program, netting the school's first ever national championship and saving a program in the progress.

The incredible story has been recognized on a number of levels and now, the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame is joining in, naming the 1994 Horns team as one of its 2012 inductees.

Coached by Mike Babcock, the Horns, who had never finished a season above the .500 mark, posted a 34-11-3 record to win the Canada West regular season title. They backed up that effort with a win in the post-season and clinched the national championship with a victory on Maple Leaf Gardens ice. The team was previously inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Hall of Fame.

The Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place June 9 in Red Deer.

Peters joins Babcock with Wings

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 20:24:05 +0000

Former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey coaches are reuniting in the National Hockey League.

Bill Peters, a Horns coach from 2002 to 2005, will serve as an assistant coach with Mike Babcock after the Detroit Red Wings announced his appointment on Friday. Babcock coached the Horns in 1994, guiding the team to its only ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup title.

The two were linked previously as Peters was Babcock's assistant coach with the Western Hockey League's Spokane Chiefs. Peters joined Babcock's Spokane staff during the 1996-97 season and returned to the same post in 1999 – Babcock's final season with the Chiefs – where he stayed until joining the Horns.

Peters spent three seasons with the Horns from 2002 through 2005, guiding the team to a 17-59-8 record and one post-season appearance. In 2005 he returned to the Chiefs, eventually leading Spokane to a Memorial Cup title in 2008, the same season that Babcock and the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.

Most recently, Peters was the head coach with the Rockford IceHogs in the American Hockey League. He was the longest tenured coach in IceHogs history, spending three seasons behind the bench while compiling a record of 122-97-7-14. The Three Hills, Alta. native guided the Hogs to a winning season during every campaign he coached in Rockford.

1971 Chinooks get their due

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 May 2011 21:50:13 +0000

Long before the Pronghorns men's hockey team skated away with a national title on Maple Leaf Gardens ice, another group of young athletes brought glory to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The 1971 U of L Chinooks women's basketball team won the institution's first national crown, the Canadian Junior Women's Basketball Championship, 23 years before Mike Babcock and company claimed the school's second. It was a monumental achievement that went relatively unnoticed, both then and over the ensuing years.

Only now are we beginning to realize just what this motivated group of small-town overachievers accomplished and fittingly, their induction into the Pronghorns Hall of Fame is finally shining a spotlight on their legacy.

The 1971 U of L Chinooks, coached by Wilma Winters, consisted of Dixie Dow, Linda Dogterom, Leona Voth, Minne Van Dieren, Sharon Giduk, Marge Moore, Linda Voth, Rosemary Brodrick, Joan Cannady and Linda Dow.

"The very best fans we had were the janitors at the Civic Centre," laughs Joan Langille (Cannady) (BASc, BA '73). "We didn't have a lot of people come to our games. What really struck us though, was when we arrived back in Lethbridge from winning the championship, the only people at the airport to greet us were the boyfriends, the parents and the janitors; they supported us right to the end."

With a roster stocked by southern Alberta products, the Chinooks proved that small could play big if given the opportunity.

"Basketball was a comfort zone for many of us from the smaller communities," says Langille, a Taber native. "Those of us from high school, it seemed pretty daunting to make a university team but we managed."

Linda Joncas (Dogterom) (BEd '72) grew up in Broxburn, went to McNally School as a youngster and then finished high school at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. The majority of the rest of the team came from the Coaldale area and the powerful Kate Andrews program.

"It was really neat because we all kind of knew each other growing up, either playing with or against one another and then we reunited once we got to university," says Joncas.

"For me, it was a struggle to go to school. I ended up being in a single parent home after my parents divorced, and I had to get student loans and an academic scholarship to get me through. Basketball and the team meant so much to me, it really helped me through what was a tough time for my family."

Langille and Joncas were co-captains of the Chinooks in 1971, both playing out their final years before graduation. Each used their U of L degrees to carve out satisfying careers, Langille as a longtime provincial government employee and Joncas as a teacher and guidance counsellor. They both laud the personal learning environment the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ offered.

"There's really something to be said for small schools and it was exciting to be a small school playing against the big universities. In terms of education, it was also such a great experience and years after, I would recognize that both in my career and when I would see other U of L graduates applying for positions in the provincial government," says Langille. "More often than not, they were very successful."

Joncas says she is an unabashed supporter of the U of L experience, and was for years in her role as a high school guidance counsellor.

"I remember coming back to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ 10 years after I'd graduated and as I was walking down the hall, somebody called my name and it was Dr. Petherbridge and he remembered me," she says. "That was very significant to me, 10 years after this man still knew who I was. There's a real student-centred focus at the U of L and in my experience, there's nothing much that compares."

That the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has now recognized the Chinooks for their significant contribution to the school's sporting history, brings the team back into the fold.

"We're very appreciative, honoured and in a way humbled," says Joncas. "You don't realize at the time that it was a big deal. We were all young and it was fun and it was a "Wow, we did it" feeling, but in terms of the bigger perspective, I don't think we really understood the way we do now."

The only regret the two have is that their coach, the late Wilma Winter, is not around to reconnect with her team and enjoy the long overdue accolades they are receiving.

"It just breaks my heart actually," says Joncas before pausing to gain her composure. "She should have been here because she was some lady. She would have loved to be honoured, she would have loved it from a coaching perspective and been proud that her institution recognized her girls."

GET THE FACTS

· The Chinooks only adopted the Pronghorns name in the fall of 1971 when the campus moved to its westside location.

· They very nearly won consecutive national titles, losing in the championship game the year before when Lethbridge hosted the event.

· The Chinooks won the 1971 provincial title with a 66-29 rout of Red Deer College and a 71-25 blowout of Mount Royal College.

· In the national championship tournament, hosted by UBC in Vancouver's War Memorial Gymnasium, the Chinooks beat UBC 46-45, topped ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ottawa 70-59, and then won the national title with a 52-40 decision over ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria.

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Mercer headlines Calgary Alumni & Friends Dinner

trevor.kenney — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:46:07 +0000

Building off the rousing success of last year's inaugural event, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is excited to announce Rick Mercer as the featured speaker for the second annual Calgary Alumni & Friends Dinner, to be held Sunday, Apr. 3 at the Calgary Westin.

Mike Babcock, head coach of the Detroit Red Wings and Canada's Olympic men's hockey team, was featured last year as U of L alumni filled the building and enjoyed a fantastic evening of food and fellowship. Mercer, known as Canada's "unofficial opposition" is the nation's most popular comic, a political satirist who knows exactly what matters to regular Canadians and what makes them laugh.

Comic Rick Mercer is the headliner for the second annual Calgary & Friends Alumni Dinner on Apr. 3.

Tickets for the dinner went on sale Feb. 7, but alumni have an opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the event, simply by getting in touch with the U of L's Alumni Services office. There are more than 32,000 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni living and working in communities across southern Alberta and beyond. We want to hear from you.

Alums are encouraged to e-mail Alumni Services with an update on what they've been up to since graduating from the U of L. Tell us your stories and not only will you be entered in a draw for two tickets to the Alumni dinner (valued at $250, accommodations and travel are not included), your story may be featured on the ThisIsMyU website.

The entry deadline for this contest is Mar. 11, 2011. If you'd like to purchase tickets, click on this link.

It promises to be an amazing evening with wonderful food, the comedy of Mercer and an opportunity to reconnect with your fellow ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alums.

Mercer's top-rated, award-winning CBC show, The Rick Mercer Report, features his trademark rants, hilarious (and informative) fake newscasts, commercial parodies and comic encounters with famous Canadians, talking about Canada. More than any other comedian (or journalist for that matter), he talks to Canadian newsmakers with a refreshing candor, and is uniquely able to spin topical hilarity from the people and the things deeply embedded in the national consciousness.

'94 Hockey Horns reminisce with Babcock

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:38:24 +0000

Mark Wobick (BSc'96) works in the financial sector and is a hockey coach to his novice-aged son; Trevor Ellerman (BMgt '94) is the head professional at a golf course; Mike Babcock just coached the Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey Team to a gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics. What all three have in common is 1994, the year they were all ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns and winners of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (then CIAU) men's national hockey title.

"When you win together, you walk together, forever," says Babcock, as much a Horn now as he was in 1994, despite the fame and fortune he's since experienced.

The majority of the group was back together at the sold-out 1st Annual Calgary and Friends Alumni Dinner in Calgary this past spring, with Babcock as the keynote speaker. The bond they established 16 years ago is still evident.

"I've seen probably four or five guys who I hadn't seen in 13 or 14 years, and it's like I just saw them yesterday," says Ellerman, the head pro at the Riverview Golf Club in Redcliff, Alta.
"Looking back, that closeness we had, that was the whole key to our success."

Wobick, who works with Meyers Norris Penny in Lethbridge, says the players reached a point where they completely trusted one another.

"I don't think I ever experienced a team that had that type of a bond. You just lived and breathed for everybody and Mike made us believe," says Wobick.

For Wobick, that has translated into lasting relationships with his teammates and successes that trace back to that championship season.

"As you get older you better understand what you accomplished," says Ellerman. "At the time, you won and you think it'll last forever and you don't really grasp the concept. I think if you look at our team, the successful careers the players forged for themselves away from hockey, the foundation was laid there in 1993/1994. Winning builds success, friendships and bonds, and this was a special group."

To view the entire issue of SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Mike Babcock

Champions' Legacy

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Former Horns coach Peters earns head job with Carolina Hurricanes

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New Horns head coach eager for opportunity

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Horns tap Red Wings organization for new men's hockey coach

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Horns headed to Hall

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Peters joins Babcock with Wings

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