Coach Hillman, Assistant Coach Marc Rodgers and the Ice Bears front office, especially general manager Mike Murray work in advance of each season on putting together an SPHL championship contender.
This week we take an in-depth look at that year-round process.
Year Round Process
"It's slightly different at every level of hockey,”Coach Scott Hillman said. “But and each coach has they're own philosophy. I try to keep those recruiting actions going all year long. Obviously you have to tame it down a little bit during your season because there's so much other things to worry about, but there's definitely communication with players and coaches at all levels. You know, trying to keep the interest and the name of the Ice Bears and the quality of our organization and the whole SPHL - keep our name out there and we've had a lot of conversations and this is actually the time of year when the people trying to look to their professional careers are making contacts as well, not just us contacting them, but they're contacting us because some of the junior seasons are winding down, some of the college teams are done already, some are heading towards the national championship. So, this is the time of the year the players are announcing to their college coaches that you know I am wanting to make the transition to the pro game. So there's definitely a lot of communication right now, but we keep that going twelve months a year."
Recruiting Pool
"I think we will see more division one type players. A few years ago it was a real rarity to see any division one players in this league and we've got a good handful on our roster and Derek Pallardy is a great example of that. A guy with a great four year career as a defensive forward and he's proving now that he can also put the puck in the net, but he's definitely the premier penalty killer in this whole league, I believe. Guys like that - that you know we also talked about there are less Double A teams - if you will. It seems each year there are rumors that three or four of those teams - whether it would be in the Central League, the IHL or the East Ccoast League may not be there next year, and our league is going to benefit from that and the fact that we will get better and better quality players. Some of those guys that think they have a secure spot in the AA as a lot of them do find out that they need a back up plan and the SPHL has really proved to be a pruning ground and a breeding ground for these guys. Mark Van Vliet is a great example."
Commitments
"We can't give out any names because there's nothing they are allowed to sign yet to commit them to us versus going to another team in our league. So signing isn't going to be until mid-may this year. We've changed some recruiting rules in our league that doesn't allow anyone to commit until you've submitted your final roster, both for play-offs and post season. We also have to wait and see if there is expansion, because some of our players, if there is an expansion will have to go on the expansion draft list, so we're waiting on the league to iron out all of their final dates then we will sign our commitments."
SPHL commissioner Jim combs has said the league's hoping to expand in Pensacola and Augusta, among other cities.
Returning Players
"You know you're trying to form your roster and obviously the first thing you need to know is which players have an interest in returning, and that is definitely something we do not speak to them about until the year is over. We're going to have a situation were we are going to have to make some tough decisions on some veteran players. We've got six guys in our line up who are or will be considered veterans next year. Obviously if the league doesn't change the number of veterans, which is currently three, and they do not change the number of games, which is 225, to classify you as veteran, we will have three guys in our roster that we can't keep next year that we know for sure. So once we get a read on which guys wanna come back next year, we kinda know the holes we want to fill, and obviously every team has a style they like to play, so you try to find players that fit into your style. And if you want to change your style you start looking for more of those guys that you want to adapt to. So, there's a particular type of player that we'll be out there looking for once we know which players we are losing."
Rumors
There have been rumblings that Tim Vitek, JJ Wrobel, and Kevin Swider may not be coming back, "If any of those guys leave it is going to be big holes, but that's what you expect every year you've got some huge holes to fill, like Mike Craigen, this year. It is so hard to replace and some guys are not replaceable, but you've got to find a way then you piece it together, and all those in the dressing room to grow to help replace that one individual. No matter who it is losing three of our more senior players is going to be real tough."
Looking Ahead
"It's always exciting to look ahead. I find recruiting just a real exciting process as part of the coaching world. Recruiting is great, it's great to talk to the young guys and hear how excited they are to try and start their career and we like the young players who are looking to make their first step and we help to get them to a higher level. But you know it is just a great time of year, to hear the excitement. I can remember being on the on the other end of it. Being a player sitting at the computer and on the phone trying to make contact with the coaches and get your name known. We're definitely fielding a lot of those right now and to hear the excitement in their voice and to hear the passion they would bring to the organization."
Other Thoughts
"You know I think for us there's some players - not to name names - that we feel were really missing that style of guys that could really go out there and bang. We've got the whole team playing right now playing more physical, but you still miss a few of those guys that can really run through players. All players have their own style of game and you find the guys that compliment for the season, but sometime you want to tweak that and look for those individuals that might just bring a little bit different style and thats kinda the areas we will be going after."
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