Matt Johnson

By Katie Brickman-Young

Ballhorn named captain

Huskies set for Babcock’s debut

Oct 21, 2021 | 7:10 PM

The changes are plenty for the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Huskies men’s hockey team.

After a year and a half off due to the pandemic, the Huskies are entering the season with some new faces. The most obvious, Mike Babcock, former National Hockey League (NHL) and Canadian Olympic coach.

The 57-year-old Saskatoon native is back home on a volunteer interim basis, helping new assistant coaches Bradin Cote and Derek Hulak until they are ready to take over. Babcock was named head coach after the legendary Dave Adolph retired in 2020 after 28 years.

“I’ve been asked to come here to help the coaching staff. Dave Adolph did an unbelievable job here for a long time,” said Babcock. “I was asked to come here to help get these guys up and running and that’s a huge priority for me.”

An added bonus for taking the job – getting to coach with his son, Michael Babcock, who is working on his MBA at USask.

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“I never would have come here if my son wasn’t doing his MBA and being on staff,” he said.

Babcock’s pedigree of coaching has seen him win a Stanley Cup, an IIHF world championship, an Olympic medal with Team Canada and a national title with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns in 1994.

The accolades speak for themselves, but for newly named team captain Gordie Ballhorn, it’s the ability to learn more about the game from a coach like Babcock.

“He brings so much knowledge to the game,” said Ballhorn. “With Babs coming in, he is an intense guy, and he has won everything in the hockey world. It starts with him and works down through the team.”

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Although it’s been 27 years since Babcock was involved with USports, he feels the game is different, but also the same.

“I don’t know if there is much different. The game is probably at a higher level, but that’s probably across the board,” Babcock said. “I don’t know the league like a lot of coaches would. It looks like we have a decent hockey club, but we will try and get better every game and maximize the group.”

As student-athletes, the focus just isn’t on the game, which is an adjustment for Babcock after coaching professionally for decades.

“There are still the same expectations, but the priorities are different,” said Babcock. “Yet, when they get to the rink, they are 100 per cent in. They aren’t kids anymore; they are men. The most impressive thing about our group, for me, is that they live in the present.”

The team has a mix of veterans and rookies, but many were leaders on their respective junior teams and will look to make an impact this season.

“It’s a good group of guys – we all get along,” said Donovan Neuls, a third year forward and assistant captain. “I know having the year off, a lot of the guys are eager to get going.”

The Huskies have their sights set on winning a national championship, something they fell short in 2019.

“I think we have high expectations,” said Ballhorn. “Ultimately, the goal is a national championship and I think that is not out of our grasp with the team we have and the capabilities in the room.”

The team will raise their Canada West championship banner on Friday night when they open the shortened 2021-22 season at Merlis Belsher Place against the University of Regina Cougars.

“It will be awesome – we’ve waited a long time, but so have our fans,” said Ballhorn. “It will be good to get going and get this season started.”