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nivek_wahs
02-14-2007, 04:52 AM
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/article_4530.php


Blazers rising from cold ashes to top of division leaderboard

By Doyle Potenteau
Tuesday, February 13, 2007, 12:00 AM

Dean Clark was at a loss for words on Saturday. Not over his team’s loss, a 4-2 decision to the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place, but, rather, over an unexpected question.

The query? Who will win this season’s Coach of the Year award? You or Cory Clouston?

General manager and head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, Clark struggled for almost a minute, his tongue tied in verbal knots, not knowing what to say. Eventually, he found his way. But during that wordless timespan, his silence was telling, as the question caught him off guard — a sure sign he hasn’t considered the great job he’s done this season.

Last season, Kamloops finished with a record of 34-33-2-3, good for 73 points, fifth-and-last place in B.C. Division standings and an early trip to the golf course. Never before had Kamloops missed the post-season, though the Blazers’ record would have been good enough for a playoff spot in any other division.

This season, Clark’s crew has already surpassed last season’s point total. This morning, the Blazers have 77 points, are fighting the Vancouver Giants for first in B.C., have 16 games remaining and already have a playoff berth booked, having done so on Jan. 30.

And all this comes against a backdrop of financial woe with $989,647 missing and former business manager Maxine Patrick pleading guilty to one fraud charge; the firing of former head coach Mark Ferner and assistant Ryan Thorpe; plus the off-season hirings of assistant GM Shane Zulyniak and assistant coach Andrew Milne.

“No, I haven’t thought about (coach of the year) . . . no, not at all,” Clark said between pauses. “It’s hard to say. The things we’ve done, from the organizational side, is more with the people we’ve hired.”

“But if you asked me at the start of the season ‘Would you take being in first place or tied for first place in February?’ I would have said absolutely,” continued Clark. “This is one of those seasons where guys have bought into what we’re doing. They’re listening and the atmosphere we have is very conducive to winning.

“It’s no different than some of runs Kelowna had recently; the Rockets continued on because they bought in and had good leadership in the room, which is what we have this season. Those things start to add up, and it’s been a very enjoyable season.”

As good as Kamloops is this season, Clark isn’t a lock to win the Dunc McCallum memorial trophy; just a sure bet. Clouston has done a good job with the Kootenay Ice, a team that many weren’t predicting to fare well, let alone challenge for top spot in the Central Division with the mighty Medicine Hat Tigers.

Yet, with one month to go, the Ice (38-13-3-3, 82 pts.) are well above .500 and should eclipse the 100-point barrier for the second time in three seasons. Last season, Kootenay (45-23-1-3) logged 94 points, while in 2004-05, the Ice finished first in B.C. Division standings with 104 points (47-15-7-3).

“We have two new coaches and getting (goalie) Dustin Butler was a pretty key move, whereas Kootenay has a system in place where they just continued on (from last season),” said Clark. “They got (Clayton) Bauer out of Kelowna, which was a pretty good pickup for them, so, other than that, most of their personnel is pretty much the same. It’s two different situations.”
Nine months ago, Kamloops’ situation wasn’t as rosy as it was today: Black clouds of doubt hung over the franchise, and pundits weren’t predicting a sunny 2006-07. In fact, in a preseason radio poll, the Blazers were soundly selected to finish fourth in B.C. Division standings. How times have changed, and for the better. For next season, the Blazers should field another winning team, though Kamloops will lose key over-agers Ray Macias and Reid Jorgensen to graduation while also facing a small glut of soon-to-be over-agers with six 1987-born players.

“It should be a more enjoyable summer (this time around),” Clark said with a laugh. “In order to be good in this league, your off-ice team has to be as strong as your on-ice team. If it isn’t, your on-ice team will follow suit. Hiring Shane and Andrew, (the players) see how hard we work as a group yet we have fun doing it. And that rubs off on the guys downstairs.”
Come June, Clark should have a second coach-of-the-year award in his house. One joining his 1997-98 trophy that reads: 2006-07.

© Tuesday, February 13, 2007Copyright KelownaDailyCourier.ca