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Andy Welsh receives coaching award

Honour caps off successful season for Powell River Bantam Rep hockey team
coach
COACHING CREDIT: Members of Powell River Bantam Rep Kings congratulate coach Andy Welsh for being named Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association’s rep coach of the year. Welsh led the Kings to a fourth-place finish at the bantam provincial championship tournament held in Powell River in March. David Brindle photo

Out of all the rep hockey coaches in every division of the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association (VIAHA), Powell River Bantam Rep Kings coach Andy Welsh was selected as coach of the year for the 2016/2017 season. The award was announced on Sunday, May 28.

According to Welsh, someone mentioned the nomination to him at the beginning of April, but he had forgotten all about it.

“Nearly two months go by and I figured it was done and over with,” said Welsh, “so when I found out it was a big surprise.”

According to VIAHA, the award goes to a coach who shows leadership to players, demonstrates skills development and has a sound coaching philosophy. Winning is a consideration, but not the most important one.

Welsh’s coaching philosophy follows those principles and promotes enjoyment of the game. He said a good coach should, first and foremost, make playing hockey fun, while also keeping it competitive and serious. The approach is a simple one and all about his players enjoying themselves, he added.

“You have to have that balance,” said Welsh. “You want players putting in the hard effort, but it can’t be to a point where they’re not enjoying it or else they’ll stop coming out.”

According to his players, Welsh created an atmosphere that helped guide the team through a successful season.

“The main reason we did so well was because he was our coach,” said second-year forward Isaac Shelton.

Bantam Rep Kings hosted the 2017 BC Hockey Bantam Tier 2 Championships in March. Rather than relying on an automatic entry as host, the team earned its way into the tournament with a strong playoff performance before dropping a 5-2 decision to Fort St. John in the bronze medal game.

Welsh said a rivalry with Campbell River was the real highlight of the season.

“Our first five games we didn’t beat them,” he said.

Kings were 0-3-2 against Campbell River to start the schedule and closed out the season winning four out of the last five games, including a sweep to claim the VIAHA championship in a best-of-three playoff series by scores of 1-0 and 10-2.

“Going from not being able to beat them at the start of the year to closing out our last game 10-2 in their arena was a pretty big step,” said Welsh.

Welsh is one of those coaches who players want to play hard and win for. Describing his approach to the game, his players use words such as pride, belief, dedication and respect.

“Andy motivated us to do better and not give up,” said first-year defender Jeffrey Chernoff.

Team members said that in all circumstances it always came down to Welsh’s ability to make the game fun.

“Andy cares about all of the players on his team and not just the best players,” said first-year forward Cohen Mastrodonato. “He’s fun.”

Second-year defender Keagan Abbott echoed the fun approach Welsh brings to the game.

“He has incredible knowledge of the game and creates a fun atmosphere at the rink as well as off the ice,” said Abbott. “He gives positive feedback and is very encouraging.”

While the players give Welsh credit for making them believe they could have a winning season, their coach said it was the other way around.

“Without the players putting in the effort and having the season they had, I wouldn’t have been recognized,” he said, “so I owe it to the kids for having an outstanding season.”