KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – It has been a little more than a week since the Knoxville Ice Bears named Mike Craigen as the fifth head coach in the organization’s history. Chances are, Craigen has not stopped smiling since.
Craigen is no stranger to Knoxville. He played with the Ice Bears for four seasons (2004-2008),
G.M. Mike Murray (left) and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Swider (right) welcome Mike Craigen as the Ice Bears%27 new coach (photo courtesy of Knoxville Ice Bears)
After retiring nearly two years ago, Craigen quickly realized he might have hung up the skates a little too soon. A return to Knoxville and the ice, plus a slightly higher paycheck than the capped salary of a SPHL player, were just the thing to lure the 28-year-old away from the security of his telecommunications job back in Canada.
“After retiring from hockey, I missed the game immensely, especially the way the game is played in Knoxville, the people here and the organization,” Craigen said. “Once you get accustomed to the way of life down here, it is something that doesn’t leave you very quickly.”
Persistence paid off for the Buckhorn, Ontario native, who applied for the bench boss spot last season after Scott Hillman left to coach in the Central Hockey League. The honor went to Hillman’s assistant, Marc Rodgers. Rodgers and the team parted ways over the summer, opening the way for Craigen’s return.
Craigen admits he probably was not ready to head the team last year. He gained valuable experience as the assistant coach of Central Canadian Hockey League’s Peterborough Stars, which strengthened his resolve to coach at a professional level.
“Being away from the game for a few years made me realize how much a part of my life hockey was and how much of a great lifestyle it was. I missed the game and I got the passion back for it,” Craigen said. “It’s that age old saying, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, and that really was the case.”
Knoxville Ice Bears General Manager Mike Murray, along with newly appointed Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Swider, interviewed more than 10 candidates before deciding to give Craigen a shot.
Craigen believes he is the best man for the job because of his knowledge of the league, his comfort level with the city and his rapport with the organization and fans.
“I think I was the best choice because I want to win the most of anybody and I think I have a lot left to give Knoxville and I can do that through this avenue of coaching,” Craigen said.
If excitement could win championships, then Craigen should have no problem leading the team back to the top of the league. Goals however are what bring home the coveted cup, and with six of the team’s top goal scorers missing from the roster, Craigen will do well to remember the enthusiasm he showed during his first week on the job.
One key component of a successful team is recruitment. Craigen, along with Swider, have already started devising a plan to bring in players to fill the roster.
“I want guys that are here for the right reasons. Guys that are going to buy into my system early,” Craigen said. “Guys that are going to be good guys off the ice. Chemistry guys. Personality guys in the dressing room. Lots of character. And of course, players that want to win.”
Expect to see high-energy offense and tenacious defense on the ice. Craigen is looking for guys that can score, but also guys who hate getting scored against.
“We are going to base our game on defense, but at the end of the day, you got to score more goals than the other team,” Craigen said.
So far, Craigen has confirmed the return of goalie Andrew Gallant, forwards Bobby Joe Pelkey and Mike Bulawka and instigator David Segal. That leaves 13 spots to fill, a task that some might consider to be “rebuilding”. Just don’t call it a rebuilding season in front of the new coach.
“When I think of rebuilding, I think of tearing it down and starting brand new and we are not starting brand new because we are building on a foundation of years and years of great hockey,” Craigen said. “I just hate the word rebuilding. As soon as you say rebuilding, it is a crutch, a safety net. When I hear coaches say that, rebuilding, I just laugh. So you’re not real confident, and I hate that. I am confident and we are not rebuilding.”
So far, the response from players and coaches around the league to his hiring has been positive. The real trick, Craigen knows, will be drawing that line between player and coach.
“There is a fine line between being a coach and a leader, and being a fan of the game and just watching it,” Craigen said. “That is going to be the main challenge for me – stepping back and saying okay, you’re not a player anymore. You can’t go out there and make a difference right now. You have to be a good leader and you have to be even-keel for the guys.”
There is a saying, what goes around comes around, and that holds true for coaches, too. Craigen admits he was not so easy to coach because he expected a lot from his coaches – holding his teachers to a certain level and challenging them when he felt it necessary.
So, what will happen if a player challenges Craigen?
“It depends on what they are challenging me on. I don’t want guys coming in here challenging me over ice time. If a player has a problem and they want to come and talk about it or something they hear from me isn’t what they like, I want to know,” Craigen said. “A big part of being a coach, and what I think I am really going to be good at, is nipping problems in the bud, getting to them before they become huge issues and problems.”
Players retiring and becoming a coach is not a new concept, but Craigen believes former players make the best coaches because they know exactly what the players are going through and can be a true player’s coach.
“A player’s coach doesn’t just let them do what ever they want – [a] let the inmates run the asylum kind of deal, but dealing more with my relationships off the ice and really transferring it to the on-ice play,” Craigen said. “I just want to be one of those guys who players feel comfortable around. There isn’t like a black shadow in the room. I just want to be open to everybody and honest. I think that is really, really important.”
What makes Craigen stand apart from most coaches, and probably had a good role in helping him land his dream job, is his grasp of the business side of the sport. Knoxville has seen numerous hockey teams come through the city over the past 30 years. Craigen has a keen sense of the importance of filling seats and providing quality entertainment in the form of hard-hitting, action-packed hockey. The pressure alone is enough to scare even seasoned coaches but Craigen seems to relish the challenge that lies ahead.
“I know we are here to do two things. You’ve got to win hockey games, but if there is no one here to watch you win, what’s the point. If you are winning games in an empty building, you are still losing money,” Craigen said. “You have to do whatever it takes to get fans to the games. They will fall in love the sport because it is so different.”
To some, Craigen’s leap of faith may seem foolish. Giving up a solid, steady job to follow your passion in a city where championships are expected – no, demanded – may seem like a crazy move. But Craigen knew he had to take a chance. Maybe it is the hockey player in him but his belief is that if you want to live your passion, just do it.
“You have two decisions: you either do or you don’t. There are a lot of people sitting at home saying, I wish I had, I wish I had. I was doing that less than a year after I retired,” Craigen said. “A lot of people take chances; sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but at the end of the day, at least you can say you did it and you don’t have to keep wondering. I think the “what ifs” and the word regret are something I always want to avoid. It was my philosophy when I was playing, too: shoot the puck and ask questions later and see what happens.”
An entire city is holding their breath to see what happens on the ice when the season starts in October. One thing is for sure, with Craigen behind the bench, it is bound to be exciting.
Contact the writer at kristina.shands@prohockeynews.com .
