The 100 Mile House Wranglers have brought in another new face to the bench this year with associate coach Russell Sanderson.
A longtime friend and colleague of the Wrangler's new head coach Levi Stuart, Sanderson joined the team in late August and hit the ground running, helping Stuart organize the Wranglers' camp and recruit players. He said he has been pleasantly surprised by how welcoming the community of 100 Mile House has been, both on and off the ice.
"It's been great exploring 100 Mile House and the 108 Mile Ranch. I've been out fishing a bit and golfing a bunch. I didn't realize how nice and beautiful it is out here with the wildlife. I had to chase a bear away the other night, I love that stuff," Sanderson, 30, said. "The people have been great, everyone has been super helpful and nice."
Like Stuart, Sanderson is a former hockey player who played in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League for the Chase Heat before later moving up to the British Columbia Hockey League where he played for the Merritt Centennials and the Fernie Ghostriders. Originally from Merritt, Sanderson said he grew up skating from a young age. He recalled wryly that shortly after he learned to walk his dad took him to the rink for his first skate.
"My family was a hockey family, I couldn't even really tell you what got me into it because that was what I was born into," Sanderson remarked. "I loved it and I still love it, I don't know what else I would do."
Sanderson said like many players he had big dreams to go professional, which he chased through Junior B, Junior A and up to college. However, he said he got to a point where his playing career was coming to an end, but he didn't want to leave the game. After working a few jobs that paid well but didn't satisfy him, Sanderson decided to become a coach.
First taking to the bench at the age of 19 coaching for the Campbell River Storm on Vancouver Island, Sanderson said he had a lot to learn. He had played with several players he was now coaching, including his younger brother, and had to learn how to separate himself from the players.
"The first couple of years were tough because you are kind of close in age with the kids. You really have to try to separate yourself especially because I had played with 10 of those kids in my first year of coaching," Sanderson recalled. "You have to realize it's a job and you manage, while still keeping it fun for the kids and relay my experiences. If I can help a kid do something better than I did, that's a win."
It was in Campbell River that first year Sanderson got his first taste of championship success. In the 2014/2015 season, the Campbell River Storm won the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, the Cyclone Taylor Cup and the Keystone Cup. Sanderson noted that by chance this was the season just before the Wranglers went on to do the same in the 2015/2016 season.
That experience was awesome, Sanderson said, though he admitted ruefully it took him a few years to realize not every team he coached would be able to do that. He's learned instead to appreciate all the little victories that come with developing his players into better athletes and men.
"We're here to develop these kids into young men and good people, beyond anything hockey, that is goal number one. A big thing for me has been teaching them how to deal with life because I felt that sometimes you can get lost and it's just 'hockey, hockey, hockey' and there's a (lot more) to life than just hockey. A big goal for me this year will be rounding out the kids as good people."
Over the years Sanderson has coached for several teams, including most recently the Nelson Leafs last season. When Stuart invited him to join his coaching staff, Sanderson said he jumped at the chance. The two have known each other since childhood and have long talked about working together on a team.
He agrees with Stuart the Wranglers need to focus on speed and skating this year as the KIJHL continues to grow. He is confident that by combining speed with high hockey IQ, he and Stuart will be able to put together a competitive team this year.
"The goal is always to win a championship, right? I'm super excited about the fans, I've heard nothing but good things. I'm just excited for it to get going, it's been a long summer waiting for it."
