BOSTON – One of the reasons San Jose loves Roy Sommer, the coach of its American Hockey League affiliate in Worcester, Mass., is his ability to develop young players. During his 15-plus years with the Sharks organization – including 12-plus as the coach of its AHL affiliate (Kentucky, Cleveland and now Worcester) – Sommer has sent just short of 90 players to the NHL, including 20 during the 2009-2010 season. Last year’s San Jose Rookie of the Year, Jason Demers, learned under the tutelage of Sommer.
“Roy is a huge part of this organization,” Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson said. “He has a great tough with younger players and has played a huge role in the development of so many of our players. We are fortunate to have him as a part of our organization.”
This year, one of Sommer’s pupils is making a run at a bigger prize – the Calder Trophy. Logan Couture, a first-round pick of the Sharks in 2007 (9th overall) from the Ottawa 67s, has been one of the NHL club’s best players this season. The 21-year-old leads San Jose with 18 goals while adding 9 assist for 27 total points – good enough for seventh on the talented Sharks’ roster. For rookies, his 18 goals is 6 better than Taylor Hall’s 12, and his 27 points is second behind Carolina’s Jeff Skinner, who has 28.
Perhaps most impressive has been Couture’s play in tight games, as he leads the Sharks with 5 game-winning goals.
“Logan has been really developing as a player,” San Jose coach Todd McLellan said at a recent game. “He has really done a great job creating chances and creating energy. He has done far more much more quickly than anyone could have expected.”
Though Couture has been receiving rave reviews for his play in the offensive zone, his skills are not limited to that one part of the ice. McLellan has praised Couture for his play in all three zones, even using the rookie in short-handed situations from time-to-time. His plus-8 rating (tied for second among rookies) is a testament to his defensive abilities and work ethic at both ends of the ice.
“I have always taken pride in playing well defensively,” Couture said. “It was something that was taught to me a long time ago, and I worked at it through juniors and in Worcester. The coaches have always preached to do your job without the puck, so I’ve always tried to develop that part of my game.”
Couture said playing most of last season in Worcester was vital to his development. In 42 games in the AHL, he registered 20 goals and 33 assists and was a plus-16 while netting nine game-winning goals.
More importantly, he added, the experience gave him confidence, helped him mature, and it allowed him to learn from two of the game’s best technical coaches.
Couture lauded Sommer and Worcester assistant coach David Cuniff for helping him hone the skills necessary to be a two-way player in the NHL. Cuniff, who has aided in the quick development of Sharks’ blueliners Demers, Douglas Murray and Derek Joslin, is another longtime Sharks’ employee, as he is in his ninth season with the organization.
“I was not ready for the NHL, but the year in the AHL with (coach Sommer and coach Cuniff) really helped me develop into the type of player I needed to be,” he said. “I was pushed and I adjusted my game to where it needed to be. That was a huge part of my development. I’m not here without the help of the staff and my teammates in Worcester.”
Contact Steve.Kendall@prohockeynews.com
(Steve Kendall is a freelance writer who has covered hockey at all levels for various publications, including The Boston Herald, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and the New England Hockey Journal. He currently is an NHL writer for thehockeywriters.com).
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