Official Alumni News of the Kitchener Rangers Spring 2019 Edition
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OFFICIAL ALUMNI NEWS OF THE KITCHENER RANGERS SPRING 2019 EDITION FORMER COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER focuses on as he helps his team navigate You are focused on your individual teams. OF THE KITCHENER RANGERS AND their way through the playoffs. “I think the But yes, you do take a lot of pride in seeing CURRENT ASSISTANT COACH OF THE level of stress in the playoffs goes up for them succeed and obviously love seeing us as coaches. I don’t think you coach too players do well as they were a big part SAN JOSE SHARKS, STEVE SPOTT, WEIGHS differently, but the one area we pay more of our team here in Kitchener.” Looking IN ON HIS PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE AND HIS attention to is making sure you have the back on his time here in KW, Steve can’t TIME IN THE NHL. right people on the ice at the right time,” help but reminisce about the Rangers’ — said Steve. Memorial Cup victory in 2003. It was Steve describes the NHL as having three moments like this one that has helped seasons—the preseason, the regular “When you play against some of the prepare him for as some call it, ‘the show.’ season and the playoffs. Each season best players in the world you have to brings new experiences and requires try and negate their opportunity to “Winning the Memorial Cup with Kitchener players and coaches to shift and adjust score by matching your team up has definitely prepared me for this,” their game and coaching style. against the right players.” said Steve. “The CHL is the greatest development league in the world. Not only “You have your preseason where you’re For Steve, the playoffs bring back for players but also for coaches.” starting to form your hockey club, and you some fantastic memories of his career, start to get a feel for where everyone will especially from his time in Kitchener. As With playoffs comes pressure. Coaches fit in. Then you have the regular season, an assistant coach in the NHL, Steve often and players alike need to be on their game which the level of play increases as the finds himself coaching against former every night. Steve knows what it takes to months go by,” said Steve. “Then we get players from his East Ave. Blueshirts. make it to the Stanley Cup finals. into the third season, which is the playoffs. Seeing his Rangers alumni fulfilling their This is when it really kicks in and where dreams of playing in the NHL is something “Going to the Stanley Cup Finals was for the intensity level picks up. There are a he can’t help but be proud of. sure my best NHL playoff memory. You whole host of things behind the scenes have an opportunity every night. There that you have to deal with to get to the “You take a lot of pride seeing your former is no out of town scoreboard anymore, Stanley Cup.” players participating in the playoffs and it was just us and Pittsburgh in the because you feel like you played a small 2016 Stanley Cup Finals. Even though we With each season comes a change in your role in helping them achieve their goal of lost in game 6, having the opportunity to coaching style—but not too much. Focusing playing in the NHL,” smiled Steve. “But coach a team in the Stanley Cup Final was on match-ups is something that Steve during this time of year, it is all business. something I will never forget.” RANGERS ALUMNI IN THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS This season there were a total of five former Rangers and three former coaches competing in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. GABRIEL LANDESKOG JOHN MOORE ROBERT BORTUZZO NAZEM KADRI Years with the Rangers: 2009-11 Years with the Rangers: 2009-10 Years with the Rangers: 2006-09 Years with the Rangers: 2006-08 NHL Team: Colorado Avalanche* NHL Team(s): Columbus Blue NHL Team(s): Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Team: Toronto Maple Leafs (2011-current) Jackets (2010-13) , New York (2011-15), St. Louis Blues (2009- current)* Stanley Cup Playoff Appearances: Rangers (2012-15), Arizona (2014-current)* Stanley Cup Playoff Appearances: COL Coyotes (2014-15), New Jersey Stanley Cup Playoff Appearances: TOR - 2013-14: Lost First Round vs. Devils (2015-18) and Boston PIT - 2012-13: Lost Conference Wild in Game 7 Bruins*(2018-current) - 2013-14: Lost in Second Round Quarterfinals vs. Bruins in Game 7 -2017-18: Lost First Round Stanley Cup Playoff Appearances: vs. Rangers in Game 7 - 2016-17: Lost First Round vs. Predators in Game 6 NYR STL vs. Capitals in Game 6 - 2012-13: Lost Conference - 2015-16: Lost in Conference - 2017-18: Lost First Round Semifinals vs. Bruins in Game 5 Finals vs. Sharks in Game 6 vs. Bruins in Game 7 - 2013-14: Lost Stanley Cup Finals - 2016-17: Lost in Second Round vs. Kings in Game 5 vs. Predators in Game 6 NJD - 2017-18: Lost in First Round vs. Lightning in Game 5 RADEK FAKSA PETER DEBOER STEVE SPOTT MIKE VAN RYN Years with the Rangers: 2011-14 Years with the Rangers: 2001-08 Years with the Rangers: 2001-08 Years with the Rangers: 2013-15 NHL Team: Dallas Stars (Head Coach/GM) (Assistant Coach) 2008-13 (Associate Coach) 2015-16 (2015- current)* NHL Team(s): Florida Panthers (Head Coach/GM) (Head Coach) Stanley Cup Playoff Appearances: (Head Coach 2008-11), New NHL Team(s): Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Team(s): Arizona Coyotes DAL Jersey Devils (Head Coach (Assistant Coach 2014-15), (Development Coach 2016-17), - 2015-16: Lost Second Round 2011-15) San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks (Assistant Coach St. Louis Blues (Assistant Coach vs. Blues in Game 7 (Head Coach 2015-current)* 2015-current)* 2018-19 -current)* Stanley Cup Playoff Appearances: Stanley Cup Playoff Appearances: Stanley Cup Playoff Appearances: NJD SJS N/A - 2011-12: Lost in Stanley Cup - 2015-16: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Kings in Game 6 Finals vs. Penguins in Game 6 *- current team SJS - 2016-17: Lost in First Round - 2015-16: Lost in Stanley Cup vs. Oilers in Game 6 Finals vs. Penguins in Game 6 - 2017-18: Lost in Second Round - 2016-17: Lost in First Round vs. Golden Knights in Game 6 vs. Oilers in Game 6 - 2017-18: Lost in Second Round vs. Golden Knights in Game 6 “Playing in the exhibition games was a taste of what the tournament will be like. Seeing the abilities our team has excites me to begin our quest for gold.” VUKOJEVIC MICHAEL VUKOJEVIC HAS BEEN HERE It was great to build those relationships,” said Michael. “They will BEFORE. be all lifelong friends. It is really special knowing these guys will always have your back.”While at the tournament, Michael roomed Playing on the world stage and bearing his nation’s colours, he with Manitoba native, Daemon Hunt. Daemon plays for the Moose can’t help but be grateful. Every aspect of the game is amplified Jaw Warriors in the WHL. He played for Team Canada Black at the for the 17-year-old defenceman. “Playing at the international level 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and attended Canada’s really makes you realize what you’re playing for. The goals are national under-17 development in July 2018. “Daemon and I had a little different. You always want to put the country first,” said never met before, but we got to know each other pretty well and Michael. “Having the opportunity to play for Team Canada was so became close pretty quickly,” smiled Michael. “He is a great kid and incredibly special and just the cherry on top. It is always an honour building that relationship was really awesome.” Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images to represent my country.” The 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship was held in Örnsköldsvik and Umeå, Sweden from April 18-28, 2019. Michael finished the tournament with two assists in seven games played. Experiences like this don’t come around too often—Michael gets that—and he knows to cherish every moment. “Team Canada’s motto is ‘the Canadian Way’ and ‘we before me,’ sacrificing personal goals for team success. I want to take Michael also made sure to take in some European cuisine. His this mindset back to Kitchener with me and help us win a favourite food? Swedish meatballs. “I don’t know what they do championship.” Michael had never been to Europe before and was differently with their meatballs, but they are so good,” said Michael. excited to take in the culture during his time there. “Taking in the “They were different than Ikea’s and just so good.” When asked beautiful country and seeing how different the European culture what the most obscure food he indulged in was he laughed, is than back home in North America was a great experience,” said “Sandwiches for breakfast.” “We had turkey sandwiches for Michael. “I learned something new every day.” During his time in breakfast, it was so weird,” laughed Michael. “I’m so used to bacon Sweden, he knew he had to learn a little bit of Swedish. He even and eggs for breakfast. At 8 am I was eating turkey sandwiches. It texted his teammate from the Blueshirts, Rickard Hugg, for some was so odd to me.” help in that area. Michael and Team Canada were undefeated heading into the semi- “Before I left, I texted Huggy to see if he could teach me some of final against Team Sweden but were unable to come out with the the basics,” laughed Michael.