BILOXI, Miss. – When last we saw the Mississippi Surge, they were skating around the ice at the James Brown Arena in Augusta sporting the SPHL President’s Cup trophy. That was in April after the Surge’s second straight Coffey Trophy title for winning the regular season and a second consecutive trip to the finals. Fans had visions of a dynasty in progress.
Six months later, the Surge are about to start their title defense but things are a lot different than they were in the days following that happy night in Augusta. Gone is the ownership that had brought the franchise into the SPHL. Gone is Head Coach and General Manager Steffon Walby who led the team to its on-ice success. Gone are several players who were key components to the championship squad.
When new owner Tim Kerr went looking for a new coach, he wanted someone with plenty of hockey experience and knew what it was like to be a winner. He found all of that in Jeff Bes, who became the second coach in Surge history in August.
“This team has been an veteran team the past couple of years. This year it’s going to be a little bit younger, hopefully a little bit faster,” Bes said about the coming season. “It’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint. We’re going to work our way to where we need to be.”
Bes arrived in Biloxi straight off of retiring from playing eight seasons with the CHL’s
Surge head coach Jeff Bes (photo courtesy of Mississippi Surge)
While in Laredo, Bes was the player/assistant for noted coach Terry Ruskowski, a man considered to be among the best in the minors. Bes said that parts of his coaching philosophy are very similar to Ruskowski’s.
“Terry is renowned and is known to be a great coach and he is. He expects hard work. He expects determination, heart and desire and I expect the same thing just as every coach does,” Bes said. “He certainly works systems. He’s a believer in moving the puck and so am I. I’m a big believer that if you control the puck, you control the game and that’s they type of player that I’m trying to bring in here. Guys that can control the puck and make the passes and certainly if you do that, like I said, you control the game.”
Bes is taking over a franchise that has literally taken over the SPHL since joining the league in 2009. Last season, the Surge dominated the regular season, posting a 37-19 record following its 34-14-8 mark in 2009-2010. The combined 71-33-8 record over two seasons has the franchise atop the SPHL list of highest winning percentage in team history (.670). Mississippi held serve at home to the tune of 21-7 a year ago. On the road, the Surge went 16-12.
Mississippi topped the league in both most goals scored (207) and fewest goals allowed (157), proving that the players were good on both ends of the ice. They had the top rated power play, connecting on 20.24
Surge forward Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn (photo courtesy of Mississippi Surge)
Through no fault of his own, Bes inherits a roster that looks nothing like it did in April. Sniper Matt Zultek and goalie Bill Zaniboni retired. Several players left to play in the second-year Federal Hockey League. Others headed for ECHL or CHL camps. The attrition left the Surge with just seven returning players from the championship squad.
Arguably the marquee name among the players back to shoot for another title is Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn. Versteeg-Lytwyn had 24 goals and 33 assists for 57 points in 55 games last season between Biloxi and Fayetteville. In 11 games with the Surge, he posted eight goals and nine assists for 17 points and accounted for three game-winning tallies. Also returning on the forwards lines are Jeff Grant (14-32-46, plus-16 rating), Chris Chambers (7-12-19, plus-6), Rob Campbell (9-8-17, plus-7 in 28 games) and Brent Clarke (5-2-7, plus-7).
The biggest loss on defense was Steve Weidlich, who is still not healed from the severe injury he suffered mid way through last year. Bes will be leaning heavily
Surge defenseman Nick Klaren (photo courtesy of Mississippi Surge)
Bes said that he is very pleased with his core group of players and noted how important they will be to the team‘s future success.
“The guys that signed to come back all want to be here, all want to play for the Mississippi Surge. They’re all leaders. They’re hard workers and they’re going to be the guys who take this team to the next level,” Bes said. “They learned from the veterans who were here previously on how to act, how to play and how to win. Now they’re stepping into that leadership role themselves and they can teach the young kids coming in the things they’ve learned. It’s a circle effect and that’s what happens in professional hockey.”
Goaltending-wise, Bes will have two new net minders to work with. Nick Eno, who played collegiate at Bowling Green, and Kiefer Smiley who played in the BCHL will share the duties between the pipes. Bess said that he was pleased with their performances in camp.
“I’m very happy with what I have at the present time with two young goalies that came in here and worked very hard,” Bes said. “We’re going to start the season with them and hopefully they continue to do the job.”
Bes admitted that with most of the rosters being fluid going into the season because of cuts at higher levels, his squad will be a work in progress early on. He did however say that any player who does suit up for him will need to be committed to the team and not individual honors.
“You play for the name on the front, not the name on the back on my team,” he said.
Having played in some of the I-10 corridor ECHL battles of the past, Bes said that he is looking forward to rejoining the rivalries.
“I’m very excited. I’m hoping to build on that (rivalries) and to have good competition to make it exciting for the players and the fans,” he said. “They’re short trips. It’s great because the fans can go and support their team on the road. That’s what hockey is all about – the rivalries you create and everything that goes along with it.
On the subject of the fans, Bes said that they have been very welcoming toward him during off-season events, something that as a new coach he appreciates very much.
“The fans in Biloxi have been great. I was fortunate enough to play here back then they were in the ECHL. I remember a lot of the fans from when I played here,” he said. “They’re certainly passionate. There’s a great group of season ticket holders here. The booster club is phenomenal. They’ve been nothing but encouraging and helpful in this transition.”
As for the added pressure of being the defending champions, Bes said that he knows his team will draw the opponent’s best efforts. He added that he expects his team will be ready when the time comes to lace up the skates.
“The bulls eye is certainly on our team’s back but we’re ready to answer the challenge. We’re going to try the best we can to be prepared for that,” he said. “I’m certainly looking forward to the challenges and the steps ahead.”
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
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