Golden Knights talk of hockey
Gallant began focusing on coaching career long before his playing days were over
Whoever would have thought the Vegas Golden Knights would have a record of 20-9-2 (won-lost-overtime losses) after their first 31 games in the NHL.
After recording 42 of a possible 62 points in their first 31 regular-season games, the Knights are the talk of the hockey world, and the bright future that lies ahead for this hard-working and exciting team. People are talking playoffs for the Knights, and they are in a great position with 51 games to go in their schedule.
It took 94 points to get a Western Conference playoff spot last year, which leaves the Knights needing to play a little better than .500 hockey the rest of the way to be in position to make the playoffs. It is possible, as the Knights have shown, they can beat the good teams, and general manager George McPhee has stated they are all in if they reach the February trade deadline in a playoff position.
It will get harder from here on as the good teams will continue to get better, and make for tougher games down the stretch.
This will be a real test for the Knights’ depth.
It would create quite a buzz if the Knights make the playoffs, and I guess we should not be surprised if they do. After all, no one expected the Knights to be amongst the NHL leaders at this point.
Gerard Gallant
Gerard Gallant has done a tremendous job as Knights head coach, and at this point he would have to be considered a front-runner for this year’s Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year.
It has been just over 20 years since Gallant got his start in coaching with the Summerside Western Capitals’ junior A team, and has since developed into one of the best coaches in all of hockey.
Many probably do not realize it, but Gallant had long prepared for a coaching career during his playing days. Reggie Blanchard has been one of Gallant’s closest friends over the years, and always helped Gallant move to and from Detroit when he played for the Red Wings.
Blanchard tells me that Turk would go back early to Detroit well in advance of training camp so that he could attend Roger Neilson’s annual coaching clinic in Windsor, Ont., just across the Detroit River. Neilson was a very respected NHL coach and a student of the game, with knowledge that most coaches only wish they had. One could learn a lot from Neilson, and Gallant obviously was a very good student. Gallant would be in the prime of his playing career then, but still had the foresight to get some coaching knowledge from a great teacher in Neilson. That foresight then has obviously helped Gallant turn into one of the best in the business now.
As for Blanchard, he got to drive Gallant’s Black Porsche around Windsor while waiting for Turk!
Rob Sneath
Rob Sneath, according to local historian George Dalton, was one of the best, if not the best hockey player, the Canadian military has ever seen. Sneath recently passed away, and received recognition on Hockey Night in Canada’s Coaches Corner a couple of weeks ago. Don Cherry and Ron MacLean paid tribute to Sneath’s ability as a physical education specialist in the Canadian Forces.
Sneath played junior hockey in B.C., before joining the military. He once attended a Philadelphia Flyers’ training camp, and was invited to play in their minor system.
At age 28, Sneath had a tough decision to make, but chose to stay in the Forces. He was a true gentleman, states Dalton, and one of many fine hockey players who have played in the Canadian Armed Forces. Dalton says the CFB Summerside Eagles had some great talent play with them back in the 1960s, including Red Gravelle, who played in the 1949 Winter Olympics as a member of the RCAF Flyers.
Others who played here included Tony Lacari, who attended a New York Rangers’ training camp, and goaltender Spike Martin, who played all over Canada and parts of Europe. Ronnie Hughes was a star defenceman for the Eagles. These are just a few of the very good hockey players that played while members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Have a great week!