OLDS — Scott Atkinson has been around hockey for decades at different levels, including high school, college, university and Hockey Canada -- and has won championships. So he knew what he was getting into when he signed on as the new head coach and general manager (GM) of the Olds Grizzlys.
Atkinson was hired by the Grizzlys on Jan. 24 and introduced to the news media on Jan. 27 during a news conference at the Olds Sportsplex. He signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year.
He replaces Joe Murphy who resigned as head coach and GM of the Olds Grizzlys on Jan. 13. Pete deGraaf served as interim head coach while the club searched for a replacement.
“To me, I took on the Junior as a challenge kind of later in my career and I like it. And you know, basically I love being around teams, so that fills the requirement in my life,” Atkinson said.
“But the level doesn’t matter to me as much as the impact that you can make with the people you’re working with.”
“When I look at it at least talking to the guys that are running it, we need to sort of stabilize and we need to kind of build a foundation,” he added.
“You can’t shoot a cannon out of a canoe so you’ve got to get a solid base and you’ve got to start building that and without knowing specifically, that’s probably what’s a little bit amiss here.
“I’m a pretty patient guy, so I’ll come in and give guys a chance and get to know them very quickly. Because I’ll guarantee this: no matter where you’re at, the top teams aren’t as good as you think they are and the bottom teams aren’t as bad as you think they are. That’s just the way it is in all organizations, in all endeavours in life.
“So there’s probably a lot more good here than has been expressed in their winning percentage so we need to kind of get that or find that and grasp that and build off that.”
“I’m sure there’s lots of very, very good things about this team, even though it doesn’t look like it on their win/loss record.”
He said he’ll be focusing on these main things: ensuring the players work hard, are good teammates, are disciplined, represent the Grizzlys well on and off the ice and understand that there’s going to be no quick fix; improvement is going to take time,
“This team has a great history and they need to become part of a legacy and that means that they need to leave their own legacy here,” Atkinson said.
“Being a Grizzly is not only putting on a uniform, it’s being a person. You know, right down to your personality. So we want really good people. (You) can’t be a Grizzly if you’re not a good person, as far as I’m concerned.”
Team president Darcy Dallas said Atkinson’s experience, success, and his philosophy are exactly what the team needs.
He said management looked at a short-list of about six candidates.
“Of the guys that we were inquiring about this job all of them were very good; extremely good guys. The reason Scott stood out for us was the fact that he’s (done) it. There’s nothing that’s new to him in this,” Dallas said.
“He wants to build a program, and that’s what the Grizzlys need. We need to bring the structure in here, the programs in here, start doing more in the community, get the right type of players in here.”
Dallas likes the fact Atkinson plans to focus on recruiting players from Central Alberta whenever possible.
He believes the team has lots of ability, the players just need to know how to channel it.
“I don’t think our team is struggling with talent. I think we’re just kind of struggling with an identity. We have a bunch of very good hockey players here, from our 20-year-olds down to our two 16-year-olds,” Dallas said.
“You look at our defence, you look at our forwards, you look at our goaltending; all of it’s pretty solid. They just haven’t been able to click and gel kind of as much as we’d like them to. “
Atkinson has been living in Calgary but said he plans to obtain a home in Olds as soon as he can.
