Hopefully this will be the first of several blog interviews with Coach Chelios. For this first interview, I wrote new Wrangler Coach Chelios and asked him several questions. He obliged and here are his answers.Question: What's your first priority?
Answer: Three Fold; Winning, Player Development, and Discipline
Question: What do you understand are the challenges for the Wranglers?
Answer: Creating a new identity, looking forward to the future and putting the past behind us.
Question: What are you doing to recruit new Wrangler players?
Answer: I have a great number of contacts through all levels of hockey. I intend to go on several recruiting trips and access all of my contacts to fill a roster that will enable us to win.
Question: You stated you are going to change the culture, what does this mean?
Answer: What I mean by changing the culture is that any reputation that the organization has established before I arrived here is exactly that. I do not plan on talking to recruits about anything that involves a losing record, we are going in a new direction with a new attitude, and a clean slate to establish the new reputation identity.
Question: What would the ideal Wrangler player look like to you?
Answer: A complete "gentleman" that not only will be an asset to our organization, and he will be an equal asset to the community.
Question: Are you going to supervise all aspects of training, such as off-ice conditioning?
Answer: I will supervise all on and off-ice activities including community involvement and volunteering myself and the players to charitable organizations and youth programs. We hope to have the opportunity to work closely with the local minor hockey organization.
Question: Whats your tolerance for drugs and alcohol as well as breaking the law?
Answer: My policy is zero tolerance. Any players from our organization that are putting themselves in bad situations will result in banishment from the team.
Question: What's your typical gameplan, since you are a defenseman are you more defensive minded or focus on forwards and scoring?
Answer: Our system will involve both an offensive and defensive minded balance of responsibilities.
Question: Do you have a system? If so, are you willing give fans a bit of an insight into what it is?
Answer: Everything that involves the information given to our players will be completely system oriented. To give a brief explanation of the style we intend to play will focus on discipline, hard work, skill, and an aggressive and extremely physical style of play.
Coach Chelios: I appreciate your interest and look forward to communicating with you and our fan base for the upcoming exciting and successful season.
Thank you Coach Chelios for your answers. We look forward to an exciting and successful Wrangler season.
