Indians leave the past, now living in the present
December 17, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Soo Indians News Release
That was a significant date for the Soo Indians Hockey team. It marked the first time in nearly ten years that the franchise, one of the most successful in NAHL history went below the .500 mark.
During the team's first season in the league they started out 0-1-1 then earned a sweep in their second weekend of action. Never again had the pride of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan been below .500 in nine years. Six days total in that span. This past weekend, December 11, 2004 the Indians swept the USNTDP winning for the seventh time in nine games and moving above the .500 mark for the first time all season and within striking distance of the top teams.
Many expected the Indians to falter this season. Prior to the 2003-04 season, coach Joe Shawhan sensed that the team financing could be in jeopardy as a heated political election was brewing for Tribal Chairman. One individual in the running strongly supported the team while the other opposed it. Budgets were being watched closely and Shawhan felt it unfair to have a young assistant coach come to the Soo and go through the election process.
In January, the Sault Tribe announced that they would fold the team at the conclusion of the 2003-04 season and now with no assistant coach and no team for the following year, Shawhan focused on the present and the Indians went onto the finest season in team history. There was absolutely no recruiting done after November. A dozen players from last year's team received college scholarships and another went to play professionally in Finland.
In May, after an outpouring of community support, the Tribal board reversed it's decision and reinstated the team; then again in August, after the tribal election was completed, the board announced again that the 2004-05 would be the last under tribal ownership. Then comes September 14, 2004 and the six weeks that followed -- the worst in team history.
"In all honesty, there was a cloud hanging over our proud franchise," stated Shawhan, who is the only coach the Indians have had during their tenure in the NAHL. "Many of the veterans had it in their eyes and many of the first year players had it in their eyes. I did not like the look or the fragileness of our team. It was even hanging over our midget team. I am the wrong person to be around if you are looking for sympathy. The Indians philosophy has always been that it is better to earn and not receive than to receive without earning. We needed to buy into that concept, not with lip service but with action," said the Indians coach/GM.
Shawhan along with Bonnie Kaunisto have been with the team from the beginning. They share the same vision of on-ice success and community involvement. They don't waste time and energy on distractions. Recognizing the instability of the Indians franchise Shawhan and Kaunisto lured former assistant coach Rick Corbiere back. Shawhan has leaned heavily on the two in the past and needed them to face the challenges facing the team today. "We built the mood of this team ten years ago and I am fortunate that Rick and Bonnie are with me to build it again today and eliminate the apathy that festered for the first two months this year," stated Shawhan.
Corbiere was Shawhan's first assistant coach and remained with him for seven years including two league titles and two national tournament births before leaving to become the head coach of the Northern Michigan Black Bears of the NOJHL. Kaunisto has been the team's driving force in the community and is most responsibly for the tremendous popularity the team has within this small northern Michigan community.
"Rick, Bonnie and I have the same vision. We don't always agree on the course or direction, but we always agree on the final destination," said Shawhan.
Shawhan and Corbiere are challenging their players to change the outlook from the past to the present. Shawhan states, "I tell the players daily to leave the chains behind. So many say, âI have never been asked to score goals,' or âI'm not an offensive defenseman,' or âI never had to put up points before.' They bind themselves into a self-stereotype which leads to nowhere. We tell them they can and should expect to do these things, because that is what we expect of them and they have the ability."
Shawhan acknowledges he is difficult to play for. He has no excuses nor does he ask to be understood. He feels that Rick and Bonnie are vital because they have the ability to reinforce the overall core beliefs of the organization with a different perspective.
"I trust the people around me," he says. "No one on our staff is a yes man. I am told immediately if I am going too far out on the limb. Bonnie or Rick will tell me when they sense it. I'll explain my direction and we'll come out on the same page. I will change or they will come aboard, but I trust them completely and we have had success. If I'm on the ref's too hard, Rick will tell me. If I'm pushing the players too hard and housing parents are calling, Bonnie will tell me. It's important if you are going to push the bar a bit to have people around you that believe in the overall plan and offer a diverse outlook"
Victor Matson Jr., who has been assigned by the Tribe to oversee the team functions this season, has told Shawhan he can have the franchise at the conclusion of the season if funding can be generated to operate without financial contribution from the Tribe. If the financing can be put together the team will go on.
When asked about next season, Shawhan's response was "If we work hard and do things the right way, we may win games. We may make the playoffs, we may even qualify for the National Tournament. If we really work hard, we may have enough support to operate next season and, if not, it won't be because we didn't earn it."
The third lowest goals-against average in the entire NAHL. The lowest penalty minutes in the league. These are all indicators that the Indians are earning their keep. This version of the Indians looks very much like the teams of old. Different faces but the same franchise values that are imperative with playing for the Soo Indians in this small city in Northern Michigan.
As is the way of the Indians hockey team, it is better to earn and not receive than to receive without earning. Either way the Indians legacy will prevail.
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North American Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2004
- MacNicol earns Defensive Player of the Week honors - Cleveland Barons
- Jets promotion to benefit local organizations - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Colin Kingston: Jr. Blues king of the hill - Springfield Jr. Blues
- IceDiggers hope to hold off Cleveland - Alpena IceDiggers
- Kraemer takes weekly honors - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Bobcats split on the road with Helena - Bismarck Bobcats
- Maine recruit leads Tornado to two road wins - Texas Tornado
- U-18s top Toledo, U-17s swept by Soo - U.S. National Team
- Indians leave the past, now living in the present - Soo Indians
- Bozeman battles inconsistency - Bozeman Icedogs
- Bulls soar in five-goal third period - Billings Bulls
- Phantoms hold first place despite losses - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- NAHL announces first All-Star Festival - NAHL
- Blizzard top Bobcats, 5-2 - Alexandria Blizzard
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