Play with passion, soccer coach says
Touted for speaking skills, Herdman recruited by Linden to inspire players
With a rare six days between games, the undefeated Vancouver Canucks have time for a second training camp, which is why Canadian women’s soccer coach John Herdman attended Tuesday’s practice at Rogers Arena.
Herdman met with the coaches and then spoke to the players. He obviously didn’t go anywhere near the penalty kill, faceoffs, defensive zone coverage or shooting angles. He had other matters to address once he got over his initial excitement.
“Just to stand in the dressing room with the Canucks was pretty cool, eh?” said Herdman, a 39- year- old Englishman. “I wish I had brought my little boy ( son Jay, age 9).”
His visit to Rogers Arena was an idea hatched by Canucks president Trevor Linden. Head coach Willie Desjardins immediately bought in.
“Trevor has seen me speak before and then Willie, being the sort of open guy he is, said do you want to come along and chat with the coaches?” Herdman said. “And then he gave me a chance to talk to the players, which speaks volumes for the guy. He’s looking for every opportunity to try and push his team forward.”
Herdman delivered a message about passion, dedication and the various intangibles that can make a difference.
“It’s about connection and the importance of just looking beyond themselves and what they do on the ice to about what they’ll do for Vancouver and what they’ll do for each other,” Herdman said. “It’s about trying to get them to just think a little deeper about how they can work together and how they can push each other through the season towards, potentially, the Stanley Cup.”
Daniel Sedin was impressed with Herdman’s presence and presentation.
“He was a very good speaker, I have to say,” said Sedin. “It was a lot about passion and being a team and what that means. It was very good.”
Herdman, by the way, admitted he’s never seen the Canucks play live. Nor has he ever attended an NHL game in any city.
“I’ve watched a few on TV and I enjoyed that Calgary game last year,” he said. “That was my favourite.”
Asked if he meant the infamous Jan. 18 game when the Canucks and Flames engaged in a line brawl at the opening faceoff, Herdman replied: “Absolutely!” BO GETTING CLOSE: The injured Bo Horvat is the last man standing among Canuck young guns, but he is getting closer to a return. Horvat, 19, banged up his shoulder in Edmonton in a pre- season game Oct. 2. He skated on his own Tuesday, under the tutelage of Canuck skills coach Glenn Carnegie, but didn’t participate in the team practice.
Desjardins said it would be “three or four more days” for Horvat. He later explained that Horvat would probably skate with the team sooner than that, indicating the possibility of playing by the weekend. Of course, if the Canucks keep winning, the coach may be reluctant to tinker with his lineup, whether Horvat is ready or not.
The Canucks are in Edmonton on Friday and back home Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“Obviously, Bo is getting closer, if he’s starting to skate,” said Desjardins. “Time will tell. You have to see how he responds. He was out today and we’ll see how he responds to that. If he responds well, then next is practising with the team. Once he gets healthy, we’ll have to find out where he fits in.”
It remains to be seen whether Horvat can make the jump from junior to the NHL.
Buffalo Sabre rookie Sam Reinhart, the second overall pick in the 2014 entry draft, went 0- for- 11 on faceoffs in Buffalo’s 5- 1 loss Monday to the Anaheim Ducks. There is obviously no mercy for first- year players at the NHL level.
“There are learning periods that you go through with younger players and you have to see where you think they can get to by the end of the year,” Desjardins said. “That’s how you make decisions on them as you’re trying to guess where they’ll progress to. They’re certainly not the same ready level as an NHL guy.”
Horvat is not eligible to play in the American League so if he doesn’t cut it with the Canucks, he’ll have to return to the OHL’s London Knights and be frozen there until his junior season is over.
QUOTABLE: “I like exciting. I think it’s great. I like exciting one way, though. I don’t like exciting back the other way.” – Desjardins on wide- open games.
“I think a lot of the players enjoyed listening to someone else for a change.” – Desjardins on Herdman’s visit.