Junior Trials, Day One

Yesterday was the first day of Junior Trials for the new development system at Phoenix, with the event being held at the Deeside rink in North Wales. I was in attendance in two capacities - as a writer for the website, putting together an overview of the day, and as a prospective coach for the system. As a result I got chance to have a chat with most of the other coaching candidates, as well as with Tony Hand and Matty Compton, the Phoenix head coach and netminder respectively.

You can read my official report by clicking on the link in the title of this posting, but my unofficial report is here!

The day went pretty well, the kids themselves were already well skilled at all of the ages groups, there didn't seem to be any out and out beginners there, which is a pity because it looks like if I'm accepted as a coach, I'll be assigned to the beginners and the youngest age groups. There were quite a few kids making the transition from roller hockey into ice hockey (you can spot them a mile off from their skating and stopping style) but they seemed to cope well, and personally I'd like to see all the players who took part being able to find a spot somewhere in the Development System.

As ever at these events, I got chance to have a chat with Neil Morris, the Phoenix MD, and he's really looking forward to seeing this all come to fruition. Neil's a great bloke, he's got a lot resting on his shoulders but he doesn't like to show it publicly. I think everyone knows that he's got a lot invested in Phoenix, both personally and professionally, and his desire to make it work is something that makes other people feel the same way too - we all want to see Phoenix as a success, we all want the Junior System to flourish, and in part that's down to how Neil is. Without wishing to sound like a sheep, he's one of the few people that I'd follow anywhere, just because he believes in what he's doing to such a level. Commitment of his kind is pretty rare.

The event also gave me my first chance to have a proper chat with Tony Hand. A lot of us met him fleetingly at the Meet The Coach event a while back, and he seemed a nice enough guy. Yesterday I had the chance to have this confirmed. Tony came down from Edinburgh on his day off to see the event and to meet the coaches, which is something he didn't have to do, but chose to. I don't think anyone can doubt his commitment to this team. Tony takes his hockey seriously, he wants to win, but he's also got a fun side, he's a good laugh and easy to like. He's got strong opinions on where he sees the club and the development systems going, he knows what he wants and he's keen to convey it, but he's also keen to see what others have to say, and to take on board their opinions as well. Having met him and talked with him, I'm sure that Tony's appointment will be one of the best things that this club has done so far.

I also got to meet Matty Compton, the new back-up netminder for Phoenix. He's a Brit who came up through the Deeside system, so he knows all about junior trials and how valuable they are, but what struck me the most about him was his sincerity and his desire to see the club do well. We chatted about how I work in the PR area of the club, and I'm involved in the match night presentation side of things as well, and he's said that if there's anything I can think of for him to do to help promote the club or to keep the crowds entertained, to call on him and get him involved. Top bloke!