MILESTONE FOR MOLLEKEN
Blades’ coach and GM eyes 600 wins
Lorne Molleken has a chance to join some rare company.
If the Saskatoon Blades (4021-0-3) win their 18th straight WHL game when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings (21-37-4-2) on Friday, Molleken will become just the second coach in league history with 600 career victories.
Ken Hodge, who coached Portland and Edmonton over a 22-year career, is the winningest coach in WHL history. He won 742 games in 1,411 appearances behind the bench.
“I don’t pay much attention to that,” the Blades head coach and general manager said before Thursday’s optional practice. “It just tells you how old I am.
“Over the years I’ve been real fortunate to have coached some good teams and have had some tremendous support from general managers and owners.”
A former goaltender, Molleken ditched his pads for a suit and tie after retiring from the American Hockey League’s Springfield Indians after the 1984-85 season.
Molleken quickly secured a head coaching gig with the SJHL’s Swift Current Indians for the following campaign and eventually parlayed that experience into a job with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Blades hired him Saskatoon in 1991 and he spent four years in the Bridge City, guiding the organization to two conference final appearances.
Molleken then moved on to the pro ranks, which included a stint as head coach for the Chicago Blackhawks. He also led the Regina Pats when they hosted the Memorial Cup in 2001.
But Molleken eventually found his way back to Saskatoon in 2004 and has settled in nicely.
“I’ve been around Lorne for a long time. I’ve seen him grow as a coach,” said longtime Blades assistant coach Jerome Engele, whom Molleken retained in 1991 and hired again in 2004.
“Since he first started here he’s changed and mellowed.”
For Engele — a former Blades defenceman and head coach — there are two reasons why Molleken has found success, especially in his second tenure.
Engele said the 56-yearold lets those around him — brother and head scout Doug Molleken, assistant general manager Jarrod Brodsky and associate coach David Struch — do their jobs effectively.
“He’s there guiding all the time, but he knows what needs to be done is being done,” Engele said. “He changes what needs to be changed based on his experiences.
“He takes everybody’s knowledge, puts it together and today is what you’re seeing.”
The other factor is that he tries to watch out for the best interest of his players.
Although Engele has always thought of Molleken as a player’s coach, that trait has been magnified of late.
“It’s very hard to move (them) and do some of the things he has to do, but they’re done for the very best of the team,” Engele said. “You can see it eats him, especially this year with some of the trades that had to be made. It takes a piece of his heart.”
Molleken recorded his 500th WHL win Jan. 26, 2011, then becoming the fifth coach to reach that milestone.
After a 40-win campaign in 2011-12, the Memorial Cup hosts needed 41 victories this season for Molleken to reach 600.
But the Blades were hovering at 23-21-0-3 before their Jan. 27 game against Moose Jaw. With 28 games left in the season, getting to 600 seemed unlikely. It sure doesn’t anymore. “It’s super special. This is a big year in general. It’s real nice to be a part of it for him,” said third-year Blades defenceman Darren Dietz, one of five players that attended Thursday’s optional skate.
“He does everything for us. The time and effort he’s put in to help us succeed, it’s nice for him to reach that milestone.”
Although Molleken is reticent to discuss the significance of his next win, he’s proud to have found positive results in the WHL.
“This league is near and dear to me,” Molleken said. “I’ve been a part of it basically since I was 15 years old whether a player, coach, manager or just a fan.
“To have the opportunity to work in this league for that long is something that you dream about.”