Struch takes over on Blades’ bench
SASKATOON — Sometimes, patience really is a virtue.
The Saskatoon Blades rewarded Dave Struch’s seven years behind the bench as Lorne Molleken’s underling Wednesday, giving him the head-coaching job while keeping Molleken on as general manager and alternate governor.
“Being patient with the organization obviously paid off today,” Struch said.
Struch, 42, is a former Blades player and long-time professional whose resume includes four NHL games with the Calgary Flames in 1993-94.
His association with the Blades goes back to when he was an 11-year-old rink rat and part-time stick boy and water-bottle-filler for the team at the old Saskatoon Arena.
There’s been a general understanding the last few years that Struch was next in line to replace Molleken at whatever time he stepped aside. On Wednesday, the Blades kept their promise.
“There’s a lot of talk about family in this organization, and loyalty,” Struch said. “In that sense, sitting back, patient, waiting for things to take place . . . there wasn’t really a doubt. It was just a matter of waiting and being patient.”
Struch inherits a team engaged in a full-scale rebuild. The Blades wheeled-anddealed their way towards failed Memorial Cup runs both in 2010-11 and again this past year, and they’ll go into next season with few key holdovers.
Molleken said he and owner Jack Brodsky didn’t interview any other candidates.
“Obviously, we do our due diligence in all situations, but David was at the top of the list, simply because of his passion for this team, for this city, for the whole organization,” Molleken said. “He worked extremely hard the seven years he was with me, and he deserved this opportunity.
“There was all kinds of phone calls. People anticipated there would come a time where I would step aside, but David was at the top of the list. I’m excited about his future, I know he is, and I know he’ll do a great job.”
Struch, who notched two 40-goal seasons with the Blades, played under Molleken in the 1990s. He rejoined the team in 2005, serving as the director of the Blades’ alumni association, and was hired as an assistant the following season.
Struch has limited headcoaching experience — his only similar stint was one season as a player-head coach in Europe.
Struch said he’ll sometimes make use of Molleken’s expertise. He noted that he also has viable resources with assistants Curtis Leschyshyn and Tim Cheveldae, both former NHL players, along with long-time coaching-staff member Jerome Engele.
“I’m a big believer that if you have a question about something, ask the question,” Struch said. “Whether or not you use the answer or the advice is up to you, and that’s your final decision. But we’d be crazy as a coaching staff not to use the people around us.”
The move marks a huge transition for Molleken, who is one of just two WHL coaches with more than 600 wins. He’s served as the team’s head coach and general manager since 2004-05, leaving an assistant-coaching job with the Pittsburgh Penguins to sign a five-year deal that was later extended by Brodsky.
“I’m able to get more involved with our younger players and families, because I know the team will be in good hands,” Molleken said of making the move to full-time GM. “It’s always difficult when you have to say goodbye to something, but I look forward to the new challenges.”
He also stressed that he’s prepared to give Struch space to work.
“With the number of years I did this, whether it’s at this level, American league level or the NHL level, I’ve worked with a lot of different general managers and I’ve learned from them,” Molleken said. “It’s funny; this morning, in our discussions about different things with the team, I said, ‘David, it’s your team. It’s your team to coach. You’re the guy who now has to make those decisions.’ We’re there to support him in any way we can.”
Struch says he’ll stress high-tempo, high-energy hockey with what will be the Blades’ youngest team in years.