This offseason, there was a risk that the U18 Kenora Thistles program would fold due to a lack of coaches and volunteers. They had been part of the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League for nearly 40 years.
“We didn’t want to lose that,” said Brian Kozak, SGEI’s Kenora Campus director.
During the offseason, Kenora Minor Hockey representatives met with Kozak to see how SGEI could help. With the direction and guidance of CEO Brent Tookenay, they decided on a coaching mentorship where Kozak would become the team’s head coach, and they would build a staff of younger coaches who can be mentored.
Kozak says a big reason why fewer people are applying for coaching jobs is because of how many teams lose players to hockey academies.
“How can we compete with that?” he said. “Starting a hockey academy ourselves would nullify our ability to play in the U18 Manitoba midget league.”
So instead, they looked at how to build a similar but unique model. They looked at partnering with SGEI and the two local school boards — Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and the Kenora Catholic District School Board.
This year, most of the Thistles players will be attending high schools within the two boards, while forward Manny Ross from Pimicikamak Cree Nation, is the lone player attending SGEI.
“It’s good to go to something like a First Nation school,” said Ross. “It’s the kind of school I wanted to go to in the first place.”
Ross’s home community on Cross Lake, Manitoba, is over 500 kilometres north of Winnipeg. At SGEI’s Manidoo Baawaatig Campus in Kenora, he can stay connected to his culture through supports including ceremonies, an Elder in residence, and more.
“There’s lots of cool things there,” said Ross. “It’s good to be around other First Nation people to talk to.”
After seeing that Kozak had taken over the team in Kenora, Ross did some research on the Thistles’ new bench boss.
“He’s a pretty good coach,” said Ross. “So, I was like, why not come down here and try and make the team so I can move on to the next level?”
Since arriving in Kenora, Ross has witnessed Kozak’s coaching style first-hand.
“He’s the kind of coach you’re gonna want to have playing AAA hockey,” he said. “He’s the guy you should go to and play for.”
Ross has familiarity with this league, having played the 2023-24 season with the Norman Northstars. With that, and him being the second-oldest player on the team, Ross looks to establish himself as a veteran presence.
“I’m excited to get closer to my team,” he said. “The guys are super fun. None of them show up to the rink with their head down. They’re always ready to play hockey.”
Coach Kozak said that the team is very supportive.
“They’re always encouraging each other,” he said. “Through my 25 years of coaching, they’re by far the most enthusiastic group I’ve ever coached.”
“The energy is high on those guys,” said Ross.
Kozak also mentioned this will be the youngest U18 Thistles roster ever. There are eleven 15-year-olds. Of the 20-man roster, only five are returning players. This means that other teams will be overall older, faster, stronger and more experienced.
He said the players understand the mountain they have to climb.
“Their willingness to face it together shows true character,” said Kozak. “By working as a team to climb this mountain, they are not only building the program for themselves, but also paving the way for the players who will follow.”
Kozak says the club looks to create balanced student athletes, so that regardless of a win or loss, they can focus on improvements without any unnecessary pressure on themselves.
“Can you be in a state of relaxed intensity?” said Kozak. “That’s the goal … to give you the skills to operate the most sophisticated technology in the world — the human being.”
He said a key fundamental life skill to learn and master is adversity, which Kozak defined as the opportunity to face challenges with resilience. He gave the examples of staying positive when down, recovering quickly after a mistake on the ice, or remaining calm under pressure.
“We practice this by staying focused, being present in the moment, and learning to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations,” he said. “Through this practice, you’ll see that adversity is not just an obstacle but an opportunity to respond with clarity and to bring out your best in any situation, whether in hockey, school, or life.”
Kozak said that right now, winning isn’t even in the discussion.
“Our goal is to teach them to read and anticipate the game,” he said. “First you learn how to play the game, read the game, and then winning will come.”
As the Thistles had been taught to read and react, Kozak noticed it “click” during practice last month.
With a puck in the corner, Kozak noticed his five players coming in. F1 was barrelling toward him. It’s his job to make Kozak turn or stop.
F2 is tracking the puck by reading the play. If Kozak moves the puck, F2 becomes F1.
F3 and the two defencemen are hovering around the blue line in anticipation, blocking any gaps.
Kozak passes the puck and his team jumps to action. F2 knows he becomes F1 and pressures the opponent. F3 comes in to become the F2. F1 rotates up from Kozak and fills in as F3.
The puck is sent back to Kozak, and the players rotate again.
“No more standing still growing roots,” said Kozak. “That’s for trees. Our players will be constantly moving, constantly rotating.”
His goal is to kill the opposing team’s breakout speed before it gets going.
That being said, Kozak noted his team will have many learning opportunities until they master the skill of timing.
Unfortunately for Kenora, Kozak was right about the time it will take to learn the new skills — the Thistles dropped their season opener 9-2 against the Eastman Selects in Steinbach on Friday.
Kenora is in action again this weekend against the Parkland Rangers and Yellowhead Chiefs in Dauphin and Shoal Lake, Manitoba, respectively. The Rangers are 1-1, while the Chiefs are winless through two games, visiting the Brandon Wheat Kings tonight.
Kozak said he enjoys working with the league, players, billets, parents, and coaches.
“It’s exhilarating,” he said. “For me, it’s the ultimate, because I get to work on me — my life and teaching skills.”
Coach Kozak is one of three SGEI employees working to evolve the U18 Thistles program. Training Coordinator Tyson Pitkanen is working as a safety person/trainer for the team while Executive Assistant Sandra Bond serves as a skating coach.
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