Bill McDonald says it’s time to trade in his sandals for snow shoes.
The 60-year-old, Lakehead University’s newly minted hockey coach, made a brief trip to his old stomping grounds this week, taking time off from the Central Hockey League playoffs to get acquainted with some of his future players and re-establish connections with his Thunder Bay past.
With the sole goal of winning on his mind, McDonald said it’s too soon to know just what he’s got in the Thunderwolves dressing room.
“Is this team good enough to win? I don’t know. We’ll have to evaluate the talent. I’m already into the bios on these guys. I think we’re close. With that being said, I’m not saying we don’t have to add a guy or two guys or get rid of a guy or whatever. I don’t know,” said McDonald, the senior director of hockey operations with the Allen Americans.
“All I can say is a good team that works hard and plays systems, their chances go way up of winning and you’ve got to be together”
The Thunderwolves, blessed with plenty of on-ice talent in 2012-13, nonetheless bowed out in two straight games to Waterloo in the opening round of the playoffs.
A lot of their struggles could be blamed on a lack of mental toughness. Too many selfish penalties, taken at all the wrong times, not enough hustle with the lead and lack of consistency from Day 1 plagued the Thunderwolves throughout the season.
McDonald said coming from the pro game to the university game, the situation is definitely different. But when push comes to shove, hockey is a big part of their responsibility.
“The last time I was in the Fort William Gardens they still had a clock to keep score and we want to be on the top of the scoreboard every night we can. I guess it’s my job to motivate them guys and to get them to think like that,” he said.
“Because if they’ve got some talent and are in the right frame of mind, we should do all right.”
Second-year forward Luke Judson is excited at the prospects of the veteran McDonald taking the reins, bringing some stability to a team that orchestrated a coaching change four games into last season, when Mike Busniuk took over the job from Joel Scherban.
Judson said he’s spoke to a few of McDonald’s former players and heard nothing but high praise for his new coach, whose career has taken him from Thunder Bay to Fort Worth, Texas to Allen, with several stops in between.
“There’s not a bad thing being said out there. Just talking to him and hearing what his different plans are and his communication level with the team is great to see. We’re all excited,” Judson said.
Veteran defenceman Mike Quesnele said a fresh start could be good for the program, which hasn’t had a sniff of nationals since 2010.
It will be an adjustment, but one he thinks they can overcome in a hurry.
“I guess it depends on the mentality of the players. If you’re hoping to change and you want to accept the coach’s new system, new rules, then it’s basically up to us. If we go in there with a good attitude, a good mind and are open to new things and adopt the system he has and work hard, then we’ll be successful.”
Quesnele said those who don’t toe the line are likely going to find themselves on the outside looking in.
“If we don’t then we better find (the willingness to change) because from what I’ve heard Bill demands the best from his players and that’s what I think this organization wants, a team that’s going to go out there and give their best every night.”
