Huskie assistant coach Michael Babcock is all in, in all he does

“I have to thank all of my professors. They were super flexible with our hockey schedule, allowing me to do what I love while getting my degree. If you do it like I did, in a year, it’s a full on sprint from August to August. It really helped me stay present.”

The ‘all in’ approach to life, including work, is something that he inherited from his family.

When Michael’s dad, Mike Babcock, took over as head coach of the Huskie men’s program prior to the 2021-22 season it was a high profile hire. Mike Babcock has won at just about every level of hockey with a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medals on his resume.

“If there is anything I learned from living in the same house with my dad, my mom and both of my sisters, and working with (Mike), is that you can really give a full amount of yourself to everything you’re doing,” Michael said.

“When I’m at the rink, I’m 100% a coach. When I’m with my family, I’m a son and a brother. When I’m with my buddies, I’m a really good friend. When I’m with my dog, I’m a dog owner.” (You can often find ‘Stella’ at Michael’s side at Merlis Belsher Place.)

Mike Babcock supported current head coach, Brandin Cote, in a time of transition entering the 2021-22 season. Cote was an associate head coach, under Mike. Now Cote, who is in his first year as head coach of the program, is grooming Michael Babcock to be the best coach he can be.

“’Coates’ has been great,” said Michael. “Absolutely fantastic. The guys really take to him. He’s extremely detailed and really process oriented. We have constant dialogue.”

Michael, who played high school hockey in Michigan, college hockey in Boston, pro hockey in the USHL (Fargo Force) as well as in France, is quickly coming to realize what a deep tradition the University of Saskatchewan men’s hockey program has.

While Michael grew up in the United States, his father played for the Huskies in the early ’80’s.

“After being here for a year and a half you realize how little you knew about it”, said Michael.

“Every program I have every been a part of has the model and desire that you are part of that program for life. This is maybe the first place I have been that truly exemplifies that. You can see it in our alumni. You can see it with the amount of people who are wanting to help. There’s so much pride in the program.”

When asked if he thinks about his future, Michael has fun with it.

“Am I allowed to say no?” he joked. “Any time you get ahead too ahead of yourself, it really doesn’t go your way.”

Michael admits that if he had a family, his approach may be different.

While he believes he can be a really good coach in the future, he is more than content with his current situation in life. With an MBA in his back pocket, working with the Huskie power play, face-offs and game preparation as the lead assistant is most pressing.

Turning to the hypothetical, if Michael pursues a coaching career, he’s not at all concerned about the pressure of being Mike Babcock’s son.

“Coaching is never what really defined (Mike), it’s just what he did. What ever I do, it’s not going to define who I am, just what I do,” he said.

“My parents are just happy if I’m happy.”

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @wraymorrison

by Wray Morrison

Huskie assistant coach Michael Babcock is all in, in all he does

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