It has been a great year and a fantastic ride, says Barrhead Steelers head coach Allan Measures.
Measures spoke to the Barrhead Leader March 27 regarding the Midget team’s season, including both the Interlock league playoff series and Midget B Provincial Championship, and said he was really proud of what the team had accomplished.
In the provincial championships the Steelers defeated the Rocky Royals 4-3 and lost to High Prairie 2-4, at the Wetaskiwin Recreational Centre on March 25.
“We played High Prairie twice and faced them in the final. They have a great hockey team. We [the Steelers] only lost four games all year but I don’t think that we played at the level I know we were capable of in that series,” Measures said.
Measures said despite losing key players like Jeremy Devries and having a short bench did not help.
“Losing [Jeremy] certainly had an affect. He was one of our better players and was able to set up plays when it was needed. We definitely missed his presence on the ice,” he said, adding there were other contributing factors to the Steelers loss in the final game that he considered to be ‘distractions’.
At provincials, players are expected to bring their A-game.
“It was disappointing to see for the coaching staff and our goalie, Ty. I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus because the kids played really well all year and they worked very hard,” he said, adding the team generally went above-and-beyond his expectations.
Measures said he would have liked to see the team win the series.
“There are a bunch of the kids that will have another crack at it but for those who are graduating, you know, it was a tough pill to swallow. It would have been nice but you have to remember, when you go through a season, it doesn’t matter which level you’re playing at, and when you only lose four games, you know you have a pretty good club.”
As the new coach, Measures said the team adjusted well to his style.
“Mine is probably a lot different than what the kids are normally used to but on the whole, it was a good year. I’d really like to thank Brian Geis, Ed Weeks and our team’s manager Michelle Haltiner because they did an excellent job this year. They were a real pleasure to be around,” he said.
With the season finished and provincials behind them, Measures said he would like to see some changes.
“I think, before any try-outs are held, that the kids understand the commitment to the team. With only 14 players, it was really hard to make things work when we were losing players to holidays and things like that. In my day, this would never have happened. It just wouldn’t even have occurred to me.
“You register to play hockey, you don’t go anywhere but on the ice during the season. It happens every year but it’s not something I’ve ever really adjusted to. I’m old school though. I don’t adjust well to anything.”
Measures said its one thing to have a full roster.
“At least then you can afford to lose players here and there, but when you only have 14? You know you can’t afford to lose anybody. The Renegades were really good to us however and let us use some of their players. They helped out a lot, especially during provincials,” he said.
Measures said he hasn’t made a decision yet whether he will return as the coach next season.
“Things would have to be different for me. The association has an evaluation-based system but I would rather pick my own team. I don’t think that’s how it should work. I don’t know if minor hockey will ever go back to the way things used to be but I think it should.
“It was pretty emotional to finish off the season like that. I don’t have a kid on the team myself but I love coaching and I developed a lot of strong bonds with these kids. Things didn’t end the way I wanted them to but I think it was a good year regardless,” Measures said, adding when you spend 20 hours per week with the players, you grow attached.
“They’re funny and witty and I really enjoyed my time with them. I just haven’t really thought about what I want to do and I need to sit down and do that,” he added.
