through the looking glass - people of the city
Joey Frazer best known as a coach now
By DARREN STEINKE
When Joey Frazer first joined the Medicine Hat T Hat Tigers, he never thought he would become one of the tcome one of the team’s assistant coaches
s, he never though aches.
As a rookie right-w 2008-09 c
ok wi he Tger ght-winger in the
2008-09 campaignaign, Frazer worked on perfecting his g with the Tigers, an ghter mome
is game on the ice nd during the
lighter moments, he often got into vario into va ious arguments with fellow Minnesota product and teammate Jo n S mpohar. What el e wo else would best friends do?
with fell duct
John Sta do?
The two would discuss everything from sports to American politics. The arguments often ended ended with Frazer laughing all the way to the dressing room,
he tw yt
ghin he d
while S while Stampohar was just beside himself on the ice. Frazer enjoyed getting his pal worke worked up and would take up the
side h
er enjoyed up and w
opposite side of an argument for that sake.
He admits those days seem like a little while ago, but don’t really feel that far gone.
“I think I am way more used to the coaching lifestyle now with the video and all the extra stuff you do and speaking in front of the team,” said Frazer. “They’re different between that and being a player.”
At age 23, Frazer is in his fourth season as an assistant coach. Most of the current Tigers know him only as being an assistant coach.
Overage utility player Dylan Bredo is the only holdover from Frazer’s last full season playing in the WHL in 2009-10. He was a teammate only a short time with forwards Curtis Valk and Hunter Shinkaruk.
“It has been a whirlwind, but I think we’ve done the full circle now,” said Frazer. “I am just focused on coaching.
“It has been a lot of fun. I’ve really enjoyed coaching.
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“The guys have been really good about it, especially the first two years. All the guys I played with, they looked at me as a coach. They didn’t make it hard at all.”
Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston said Frazer has come a long way in his coaching duties. When Frazer first started, he was mainly focused on running the conditioning program for
the players.
As time has gone on, Frazer has been given more responsibilities to the point he is entrusted with running the team’s penalty killing unit last season.
“It has been a fairly steep learning curve,” said Clouston. “He jumped in with both feet, but he has really become a great coach in a short time.
“He was an intelligent player. He understood the game.
“You could trust him with systems and penalty kill. That is part of it. He is an energetic and enthusiastic guy.”
Frazer said he has benefited a lot from working with both Clouston and associate coach Darren Kruger, both of whom have been coaching for a number of years.
“Both of them have always lent a hand if I need help with anything,” said Frazer. “Before they hand me the responsibilities, they always make sure to teach me first.
“When I pick up on it, it is kind of mine.”
Clouston said Frazer also benefits from the fact it hasn’t been that long since he played. The veteran bench boss said the younger coach is a bit more in tune with what the current players go through on a daily basis.
“He has played for us and understood our values and our culture and our team strategy,” said Clouston. “I think that was the major reason why we believed it could work.”
Back in that first season, Frazer enjoyed coaching his former teammates that included various best friends like Wacey Hamilton, Thomas Carr and Linden Vey, who graduated from the team after that campaign.
During that season, Frazer still lived with his billets like his teammates did. Last season, he was a renter at the residence owned by former Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins, now the head coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars.
Frazer currently lives in a condo he bought in June. Over the long term, he is enjoying coaching to the point he could see himself running his own bench as head coach one day.
“That is the goal now in life - to learn as much as I can from Shaun (Clouston) and Darren (Kruger) and hopefully one day be a head coach somewhere in this league,” said Frazer. “I will just kind of see what life throws at me and what kind of opportunities come along the way.” ■
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