TIGERS WHL PREVIEW


Saturday, September 25, 2010 — THE MEDICINE HAT NEWS More Responsibility For Kruger


likes how things have progressed over the past month and looks forward to playing for real. “I think our young guys have been really good since they came to rookie camp and carrying over to now. We were able to get some of our young guys into a couple of games and the ‘95s who we have real high hopes down the road, and up to now, have been tremendous,” he said. ”We’ve been working on the basic structure of this and that, and I think our guys have really played with a lot of energy and excitement and look forward to the start of the season.”


And just where do the


Tigers fit into the Eastern Conference’s Central Division this year? Is the hockey club going to fly under the radar, or have a big target on them? “Oh, I don’t know. We


NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT - Assistant coach Darren Kruger and head coach Shaun Clouston run a practice at The Arena in September.


Tigers assistant optimistic as season begins


KEVIN FRIESEN Special to the News


With the departure of Willie


Desjardins to the Dallas Stars of the NHL, and the promotion of Shaun Clouston to head coach, assistant coach Darren Kruger will witness some changes to his role and responsibilities with the Medicine Hat Tigers. “As far as the player development, I’ll be a little more focused on the defence. I will be working a lot more with the defence and the power play on a day to day basis,” said Kruger, who is entering his sixth season with the Tigers. “The things I’m carrying on


this year aren’t much different than last year, with the addition of doing some more video and running a few more things at practice.”


The biggest change as far as


the Tigers coaching staff this winter will be one less set of eyes behind the bench and on the practice ice. “It will be a little different when you have just two guys on the ice running practice instead of three. Last year I was the middle man taking care of the power play and a few other things off and away from the ice. “Obviously this year, there will be a little more on my shoulders, but with Shaun, he has really taken the reins on


everything and in structure, it isn’t a lot different than the things that went on here the last eight years.” Anytime there is a change at the head coaching position, things will alter in a team’s approach. “There is a little bit of a new philosophy from Shaun’s point of view. There will be some expectations and the guys are going to have to grasp what they are,” said Kruger, who feels his transition to a new bench boss has been a smooth one. “More or less, I’ve just glided


right in. You know Shaun had been doing a lot of the technical stuff in the past years and we have a good grasp of what he wants and what he gets out of his guys. I think his concepts are fantastic and I think it’s worked well here for the past eight years with the relationship he and Willie had and with the addition of me coming in, I think it was a great relationship.” “I love what Shaun is doing with our hockey club and he’s a great leader and going to be a great coach and I really look forward to working with him,” added Kruger. With training camp and


pre-season winding up and focus on the team’s home opener on Saturday against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Kruger


haven’t won anything yet obviously. There are a lot of good hockey teams this year. You look at everybody’s roster and it’s going to be very competitive year again,” said Kruger.


“We’re just a team that wants to go out and work hard every night and grab some consistency and that’s the bottom line. Since I’ve been here, we’ve always just worked hard and that’s our expectations of our kids and that’s the trust factor you have to have with your players and believe in them and continue in that process. When you have that trust, everybody works for everybody and I think that can get us off to a good start,” added Kruger. And similar to the players he coaches, Kruger has his sights set on greater and enhanced things in the future. However, he is content with Medicine Hat and the Tigers hockey club. Kruger has seen what patience and putting in your time has done for both Desjardins and Clouston. “I think when


ever you’re in the coaching aspect, you obviously always want to strive for


bigger and better things. You know I’m real comfortable here in Medicine Hat.” “I’ve been treated very well


by ownership and the staff that surrounds me. My wife and family really like it here in Medicine Hat, but with saying that, yes I would like to eventually, somewhere along


the road, get a head coaching job,” said Kruger. “I’m happy where I am right


now and I think this was a long time coming for Shaun, he’s been a head coach once and I think he was waiting for this moment for a long time and I think it’s a good fi t for everyone.”


5


NEWS PHOTO KELLY BORESON - Medicine Hat Tiger defenceman Jace Coyle and Moose Jaw Warrior Chad Suer fi ght for control of the puck last season at The Arena. Coyle signed a contract with the Dallas Stars in the off-season but could return for his overage season in Medicine Hat


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POSITION: LW HT: 6’2” WT: 197 D.O.B JUN/25/1993 HOMETOWN: Edmonton, ab 09/10 SEASON: medicine hat tigers LEAGUE: whl GP: 53 G: 01 A: 01 PTS: 02 PIM: 13 DRAFT: Eligible 2011


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