Head Coach Kevin Ride studied forestry at Lakehead University and enjoys the outdoors. In addition to coaching he maintains a Facebook page dedicated to the Wild, and sends out regular team reports to parents via email.
Coach Kevin started playing hockey when he was 4 or 5 years old. He played organized hockey from Novice to Bantam, and also a little in high school. “There was a rink about half a mile from our house and my brother and I would be there every weekend and most week days after school.”
Coach Kevin’s older daughter Emily began playing with Northwood 6 years ago. He says his family was initially attracted to the Northwood League because of the positive, no-pressure and fun environment offered. The next year when the league was looking for coaches, Kevin volunteered as an assistant coach with the Leafs. He says, “As a coach it was easy to follow Northwood’s ideals because that was the environment I wanted to put my girls into. After a few years of coaching I’ve learned that the philosophy runs a bit deeper”.
Of his coaching style Coach Kevin says “Over the years I have learned to really appreciate and focus more on the fundamentals of the game: skating, passing, and shooting. I’ve learned to teach players about creativity and the options they have on the ice rather than set plays. I’ve learned to let go of the game on the ice and leave it with the players. Almost every new coach sees the surface of the ice and players as something to be controlled and it is human nature to shout instructions from the bench (I did). I’ve learned you get more out of players when you let them make mistakes. There is lots of time to talk to players on the bench after their shift and ask them what they saw and what they were thinking and did they see any other options.”
Coach Kevin has some words of wisdom for parents. “When young players enter the Gardens, put on their sweater and say goodbye to their parents in the dressing room, they make a change in their minds from children to athletes. They are all dressed up for the big show and they see themselves as performers and you are their audience. The best thing you can say to them after a game is “I love watching you play”.”
Assistant Coach Trevor Lind is a Thunder Bay police officer. He began playing hockey at four years old (eventually playing AAA and Junior A). An experienced coach, he has coached various levels from Novice to Bantam (A and AA). He currently plays in a recreational league. Coach Trevor’s son Sam Taylor is 11 years old, and is goalie for the Wild.
Coach Trevor feels its important to give back to a sport he has enjoyed his entire life. He views volunteer coaching as a way of paying it forward, just as his coaches did for him. As for what he enjoys the most about coaching, he says its “the kids’ reactions and smiles on their faces when they do something they have never done before.”
Coach Trevor says coaching for Northwood is unique in that the ages and skill levels of the players vary so drastically that “you really have to change your approach with each player. Whether it is showing a drill on the ice or explaining a play, each player needs a little different approach”. His coaching style complements Coach Kevin’s nicely. “The goal is to develop our skills while having fun.”
Another avid outdoorsman
, Assistant Coach Steve Holowanky began playing hockey at age 3. He played his entire youth up to Junior ‘B’. Coach Steve’s enthusiasm for the game has only grown. “I recently started to play hockey again 1-3 times a week. I love it!”
Coach Steve has always wanted to be more involved with his kids’ activities (son Gavin is 8, son Walker is 5). Coaching for the Wild, he can be right in the middle of the action. He loves “seeing how the children come together as a team and improve over the year”.
Coach Steve has a message to share with parents and players: “Development is more important than winning, always be positive and the number one goal in all youth sports is to have fun!”