Ex-Bulldogs coach now a Husky
Laise’s seven years in the OHL included two with Oilers star McDavid
He helped tutor Connor McDavid and Hamilton’s Ontario Hockey League champions, and has been a major junior head coach, so bringing Vince Laise on board is a pretty important move by the Hamilton Huskies.
“Vince’s resumé speaks for itself, seven years coaching in the OHL,” said Huskies president Mike Spadafora, who announced Friday that Laise will be the head coach of their U18 team in the Alliance Hockey triple-A league.
“He’s got character, intensity and commitment. We’re obviously excited to get Vince into our U18 program.”
Laise, 37, spent three seasons as an assistant coach working with the forwards of the Erie Otters, which included McDavid’s final two junior years.
He then came to the Hamilton Bulldogs for three years as an assistant — including the spectacular 2018 title run — before taking over as head coach in August ’19. He was terminated last March as president/GM Steve Staios stewarded the coaching staff before the pandemic shuttered the OHL a few days later.
“I have nothing but admiration and respect and good feelings for Steve Staios, Mike Andlauer and the whole organization,” Laise told The Spectator this week. “We won a championship together, Steve brought me in and taught me how to be better in the game and he gave me the incredible chance to be a head coach.”
Spadafora says it was the ongoing communication with the OHL Bulldogs and support from Andlauer and Staios, a former Huskies player himself, which helped bring Laise to the Huskies.
The Huskies worked hard to bring its U18 back to the triple-A level last year, after a long absence. It’s an age group that has been growing stronger in Ontario the past half decade, as many minor hockey organizations give more attention to teenage players who aren’t with OHL clubs but want to remain highly competitive. Some are aiming at college hockey the OHL or other junior tiers.
Part of Laise’s commitment to the Huskies is to help build the vision and structure for a sustainable future for the U18 program.
Laise emphasizes current U18 coaches John Barrett and Chad Holloway “will have big ownership” in coaching the 2021-22 team, which will be selected next September, when the new season hopefully opens.
“We’re thinking bigger-picture ideas, not just an everyday subjective viewpoint on the team at that moment, although that’s really important, too,” says Laise, a Brampton native who now lives on the Mountain.
“We all have a responsibility to do what’s best for kids, especially at that age, when it’s important to have role models and mentors,” he added.
“We’ll always keep in mind other important things, like providing leadership in helping transition to other levels of hockey.”
And about McDavid? “I worked with him every day for two years, so it’s not a surprise to me or others who were there that he is that good,” Laise said. “And, the last two years, he’s taken the NHL over the way he did in junior.”