KEARNEY, Neb. – At his introductory press conference Monday afternoon, new Tri-City Storm head coach and general manager Bill Muckalt emphasized his role in the development process for junior hockey players, working hard to better themselves each day.
Muckalt is someone who knows the development process well, playing junior hockey for the Merritt Centennials in British Columbia for two seasons before joining the University of Michigan. After scoring over 100 goals and winning two national championships as a Wolverine, Muckalt went right to the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks.
Now as a coach, Muckalt is getting his first Tier 1 coaching opportunity with Tri-City after a successful stint with Michigan Technological University, where he served as an assistant coach for the last four seasons.
“We took a program that was towards the bottom of college hockey and when I left it last year, we had as many wins as anyone,” Muckalt said. “I think the USHL is a developmental league. The job that I have is to help our players get better every day. That’s where my focus, passion, commitment and attention to detail are going to be.”
That commitment is something team owner Kirk Brooks has seen in the past, knowing Muckalt on a personal level for the past five years.
“I’m very excited to get a coach of the character and the quality of Bill Muckalt,” Brooks said. “He’s a great recruiter, he’s done a great job at Michigan Tech and I couldn’t be happier to get him on board.”
Brooks also mentioned the importance of his new head coach’s role in the central Nebraska community.
“I wanted somebody that’s going to fit beautifully into the community and be involved especially here in Kearney,” Brooks said. “We’re here to develop these kids and I think Bill will do a great job but also I want him to be someone that’s recognizable and that’s what I think I have.”
Muckalt then echoed Brooks’ statements.
“I want to be involved personally in the community,” Muckalt said. “I think our players can be role models for younger kids. That’s huge for a lot of reasons because this is a community based team and I want to be part of the community. We were heavily involved at Michigan Tech and it rallied everyone behind the team and gave them something to root for and be proud of. That’s certainly been the goal here in the past and hopefully we can take it a step further.”
While the season may seem far away, Muckalt said he has lots of work to do in familiarizing himself with his new team.
“You have to fit the style of the personnel that you have,” said Muckalt. “Ideally as we move forward, I want to be a team that plays with energy and pace, that is going to pursue the puck hard on the forecheck, get possession, create transition and put pressure on the other team in the offensive zone.”
“Every day I’m getting to know more and more about the team, getting more comfortable with our staff and players, and that’s my job as a coach and a general manager. I feel confident in my ability and the direction of the team to continue on the culture that is here and to take it to a championship.”
The USHL schedule for the upcoming season is expected to be announced later this month.
Tri-City Storm season tickets for the 2015-16 season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308.338.8011.