The new head coach of the St. Albert Merchants is back where he belongs behind the bench.
Jake Behiels returned to his former team after two seasons as the offensive/assistant coach of the Edmonton Mustangs in the Capital Junior B Hockey League.
“Growing up around the Merchants and playing for the Merchants, I’m just super excited,” Behiels said. “I wanted to get back with the Merchants.”
The soon to be 26-year-old takes over the reins from Scott Rodda, who stepped down after three winning seasons, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the 2014 provincials as the Founders Cup finalists in the CJHL playoffs for an overall 45-11-1 record and Challenge Cup pennants in 2014 (34-3-1) and 2015 (32-6).
Rodda brought stability back to the Money Men as the sixth bench boss in five years, when he switched sides in the junior B circuit in 2013 after four seasons with the Morinville Jets. The CJHL’s coach of the year in 2014 will remain with the club on the board of directors.
“I was ready for a head coaching position,” Behiels said. “After I left the Mustangs there was an opportunity for me to talk to Scott and I was a little surprised when he said he was going to take a back seat but I knew it was a good time for me to step in and he thought so as well.”
Zach Rodda, a fourth-year Merchants’ assistant coach, and Pete Snaterse, an assistant last season with pro hockey experience in Europe, remain with the team.
Tyler Bunz, a 2010 draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers and the 2011/12 Western Hockey league netminder of the year with the Medicine Hat Tigers was added to the coaching staff.
“To have an opportunity like this is something we don’t take lightly. We’re extremely excited for the opportunity,” Behiels said. “It’s nice to have those guys as an asset. We’re young coaches and we’re still learning but I believe we’re extremely capable of getting the job done. It’s also nice to have Scott and Pete there just in case we do have any questions down the line or if we have any advise to give us and we’re open to that as well.”
Merch Madness started this week for Behiels with the main camp at Akinsdale Arena.
“The first few skates were pretty exciting for me to get back into Akinsdale because there is so much history in that rink,” said Behiels, a high-scoring right winger who complied 59 goals and 95 points in 102 games in three regular seasons for the Merchants and in 2010/11 the Sturgeon Composite High School graduate scored a team-high 30 goals and 42 points in 38 games.
So far, tryouts have brought out 24 players.
“I’m still trying to put some faces to some names but it’s been going great,” Behiels said. “We’ll still get that trickle-down effect (of players from junior camps) and then there are still a couple of guys who are on vacations right now.”
Among the returnees are Matt Havens, the top scorer last season with 27 goals in 28 games and 61 points for eighth place in the CJHL stats, and Cam Mazur, second in goals with 21 and third in points with 46 in 30 games, while Mike Bruni will anchor the blueline.
The Merchants are coming off a third-place 24-12-2 result in the west division and in the playoffs they were eliminated by the Wetaskiwin Icemen in the best-of-seven semifinals in five games.
“The team is looking good already with the core players that are here and now it’s just a matter of building a successful hockey team,” Behiels said. “It’s good to see everyone getting along all ready. The returning guys are doing a great job of welcoming the guys who are trying out for the team and are battling for spots. It’s just a good atmosphere.”
Ryen Papirny is poised to start in net after serving as Ty Clelland’s backup. In limited action, Papirny was 6-2 with a 3.45 GAA and .880 save percentage after arriving from the North Edmonton Red Wings early in the season.
Clelland was a workhorse between the pipes as an over-ager, logging 1,770 minutes while posting 18 wins, 12 losses, 3.63 GAA and .894 save percentage.
“Papirny understands that it very well could be his spot to take and he’s doing a fantastic job so far. He’s one of the hardest working guys on the ice day in and day out. It’s nice to see that he is taking it extremely serious,” Behiels said.
The first of three exhibitions in five nights was Friday’s home game against the Strathcona Sabres but the score was unavailable at press time.
Sunday the Merchants host the Fort Saskatchewan Hawks at 8 p.m. and the teams face-off again Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. at JRC Arena.
“It’s a good way to compare what we have right now to other teams so we can see how we’re kind of stacking up against Strathcona and Fort Saskatchewan,” Behiels said. “These three games will really allow us to take a look at guys who haven’t played junior B before who have just graduated from midget. We can see how they adapt to the league. It’s a different league. It’s faster and it’s more physical.
“Ultimately I’m looking for a team that’s going to compete day in and day out, they’re battling in the corners and they’re making smart decisions with the puck.”
The league opener is Sept. 18 against the visiting Spruce Grove Regals at 8 p.m.
The festivities kick-off at 6 p.m. with a tailgate party and providing the music is Stereo Villain, a trio featuring singer/lead guitarist Vic Desousa, Mitch Dory on drums and bass/vocalist Craig Dory, the Merchants manager. The band’s catalogue of cover tunes include Rebel Yell, Kryptonite and Blue Suede Shoes but the special event will consist mostly of their own material.
