Learning on the job part of the appeal for assistant coach Herauf
Class is in session every time Brad Herauf works with Regina Pats coaching colleagues John Paddock and Dave Struch.
“It feels like I am in hockey coaching university every day with those guys,” Herauf, an assistant coach with the WHL team, said Thursday. “I’m learning something new, and that’s something I signed up to do.”
Herauf coached the 2014-15 Regina Pat Canadians to the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League title before joining the major-junior club, which had hired Paddock (head coach and general manager) and Struch (the assistant to Paddock in both capacities) in August 2014.
“When I left the Pat Canadians to take on this, I wanted to be able to learn from great coaches like them because one day I want to be one of those guys,” said Herauf, 35.
Herauf sat alongside “those guys” Thursday when it was announced he, Paddock and Struch had signed contract extensions calling for threeplus years.
Their previous deals were to expire after the 2017-18 season, which will conclude when the Pats play host to the Memorial Cup in May.
“To be in my hometown with the Regina Pats, it’s a dream come true,” Herauf said. “Career-wise, it’s a perfect fit for us.”
Paddock is quick to concur while emphasizing the considerable contributions made by Struch and Herauf.
“They do a lot of coaching,” Paddock said. “When you’re doing both jobs, you do a lot of preparation for different things. I didn’t step on the ice from our (Christmas) break until this time last week (due to the Jan. 10 trade deadline). They’re very capable of doing anything that has to be done with the coaching of the hockey team.”