Golden Rockets – Getting set to kick off another season at the helm of the Golden Rockets, Head Coach Ty Davidson believes his team is ready to build off their solid performance of last year and continue to move up the ranks of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL).
“I hope those improvements continue. We had a lot of returning veterans last year, and I hope to have at least 11 this year to give us a good base to start with.”
“We may be a little older team, which will help. Recruiting has gone reasonably well, and I am happy with where we are at,” Davidson said.
The coach has spent his summer recruiting players from across B.C. and into Alberta and feels confident that the younger players will also be a large part of the team’s success this year.
Davidson describes his style of coaching as one of developing players’ talents with an emphasis on the offensive side of the game.
“I see nothing wrong with winning a game seven to five…defence is a little simpler. Offence takes a little more creativity. I just do it because no one does it, and it makes it hard for teams to adapt to us because they never see it.”
Davidson points to the example of other coaches coming to him in the mid-season, saying that they never see teams like the Rockets as a way that he knows he is doing his job the right way.
He also believes the style leads some players to want to come and play for a team that will let them go offensively.
“It takes time to build that reputation. It does not happen overnight. Kids want to be able to do what they want to do.”
It is funny in hockey that all these kids have all these skills, and fans love to see them do something incredible, but the first thing they do when they get them into camp is say, ‘don’t do that in a game. ‘ That boggles my mind.”
Davidson is all for having his players show their personality on the ice and also to give people a great game that makes them want to come out and watch the team play.
The Golden Rockets recently announced the acquisition of Colten De Frias from the Kelowna Chiefs for future considerations. De Frias is a three-year veteran of the KIJHL and has spent the past three seasons with the Kelowna/Chase Chiefs.
He is also the older brother of the current Rocket Brett De Frias. Colten played in 34 games, where he tallied 22 goals and 14 assists for 36 points in 2010-2011.
The 2011-2012 season will also be the Golden Rockets’ 20th Anniversary season.
According to the team’s website, “With a new management team in place, this season will prove to be exciting and entertaining in many new ways while still retaining the fabulous hockey tradition that has been built over the past two decades.”
