USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantom Philes: One-On-One With Head Coach Mainhardt

Published on August 31, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (August 31, 2009) - These are the Phantom Philes, a weekly inside look at Youngstown's very own stop on the road to the National Hockey League.

This week's edition: a sit-down interview with Phantoms' Head Coach/General Manager Bob Mainhardt.

Director of Broadcasting/Media Relations Matt Gajtka: We're now two weeks into regular practices. What's your feel so far on the group of 25 players you have in camp?

Bob Mainhardt: It's a very talented group, but we've got a lot of work to do to bring them together. The biggest things are getting them on the same page and into "game shape." They've all worked very hard in the offseason and that's apparent, but the old cliché is that "practice shape" and "game shape" are two different things, so that's our biggest concern right now.

MG: From what you and [Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development] Curt [Carr] have observed, what's the general attitude of the team?

BM: The initial anxiety has worn off and they're starting to settle in and become more comfortable with the staff and each other. I think they're settling in. At the same time, it's our job as a staff to make sure they don't get too comfortable [laughs].

MG: How do you think they handled that first week [with two-a-day on-ice practices]?

BM: I thought they handled it well. It's demanding and they had a lot of stuff thrown at them right out of the gate, but I'm very pleased with how the team's reacted so far.

MG: How has the group matched up to what the coaching staff evaluated at tryout camp back in June?

BM: I think it's been pretty close. So far the guys have really been what we've expected. The staff knew all the players really well and we did all our homework, so there haven't been any real surprises, good or bad.

MG: That was actually my next question. Is there anything at all you can think of that you didn't expect?

BM: I guess the biggest thing is day-to-day work ethic. That's tough to gauge unless you're with them every day. That's been a pleasant surprise. One of the negatives is perhaps not all of them are used to coming in and using their heads every day. We're challenging them mentally more than a lot of them have been in the past. That's an area that needs improvement.

MG: Is that something you anticipated coming in?

BM: Sure. Everyone comes from different systems and different ways of doing things. I think getting used to the daily demands and what we expect is something we knew would take some extra time and effort.

MG: This being your first time in charge of a United States Hockey League training camp, what was your game plan coming in and how have you adjusted that over the past two weeks?

BM: We had expectations of being able to demand more from this group of players than other groups we've coached in the past. That's how the plan really changed. We've also been able to move through more things and get into more advanced game plans and teach these guys a little more about the game.

MG: With about two weeks left until the preseason opener at Chicago [Friday, Sept. 11], what has to be done before then?

BM: We obviously have to get closer to that "game shape" - without playing games it's tough to do but you have to get as close as you can. That's primarily for safety reasons - if you're not ready to compete, you end up with a lot of early season injuries and no coach wants to have to deal with that. Also, we want to begin to implement our structure for our game plan so we can get a good read during the games if we're going about things the right way and adjust based on our strengths and weaknesses.

MG: What is the Phantoms' game plan based on, if you could narrow it down to a word or a philosophy?

BM: Our game plan is based on hard work, and through that hard work we play an up-tempo, highly-offensive system.

MG: What are you looking to discover as you work your way to the USHL Fall Classic [Sept. 24-26 in Sioux City, Iowa]?

BM: Again, we have a game plan and a structure that we think is going to work well with the talent and the tools our players have. We have to look at that and make sure we're on the right track and identify what we need to fine-tune and improve. And the 1,000-pound elephant sitting in the corner is that we have two roster spots to trim [USHL teams are required to have a 23-man roster], so that's going to be the focus as well, finding the two that don't fit in with the group or aren't willing to buy in - or the two who are going to remain as prospects and just need to develop more.

MG: How do you feel about the length of training camp? Is four weeks enough time to get ready for preseason games?

BM: I think so, and the timing of our camp has to do with the overall mental well-being of the team. We like to get them a week prior to school starting so the guys who are in school aren't adjusting to everything all at once - coming from the frying pan into the fire, so to speak. We want to introduce the hockey and the expectations and the system first so they have a fairly good grasp of that and can then attack their education and do a good job there.

MG: How are the goaltenders holding up?

BM: Good, very good. They've seen a lot of shots and pushed pretty hard in their goaltending sessions as well, so I'm very pleased with both [Jordan Tibbett and Matt Mahalak]. I think they've done a good job and I'm excited for them this year. I think they're going to be a strength of ours.

MG: Moving up to the blueline, there isn't a ton of experience at the USHL level there. What are you emphasizing with the defense corps?

BM: I think we've got a very talented group, but getting their decision-making right for this level of play is our focus. Each level you go up, obviously there's less room for error. At midget level and the [North American Hockey League] and prep school and where these guys are coming from, their ability would allow them to get out of jams that at this level they won't be able to get out of. It's about simplifying their games.

MG: With the forward group, do you see any potential lines developing?

BM: Yeah, I think we definitely have some chemistry, even though there's been a little bit of shuffling. You know, we've got a long way to go until we find that magical combination. But we're inching towards that and seeing some guys who are working together well. The biggest thing you see is the guys who are doing things right and working hard and bringing their heads and their physical games each day have a tendency to have chemistry with a lot of guys. That's one thing you hope - if everybody's on the same page and everybody's working then you hope you can have interchangeable parts and all the guys can have chemistry together.

MG: Following up, is the concept of interchangeable parts a modern way of thinking in the game of hockey? I say that because you hear stories about all the old, great NHL lines who stayed together a long time, but it seems like most coaches nowadays like to shuffle forwards around more.

BM: I think the overall talent level - the amount of players who can get it done - is so much greater. You have a lot more versatile players - you don't have guys who are just your grinders or just your goal scorers. It may be a new way of thinking, but I also think there have been certain coaches through history that have had no problem shuffling lines, whereas other guys like to stick with what got them there.

MG: That being said, do you see any players fitting into certain roles you had in mind coming into camp?

BM: There's no doubt. You definitely have guys who have certain styles and things they do well, and our job as coaches is to work on their weaknesses and make them as complete as possible. But guys are definitely brought in for specific strengths and there's no doubt there are some guys who are settling into certain roles nicely. And that's one area where we've also been surprised - the leadership is developing. It's a tough thing, especially with a team that essentially has 23 brand new players. It's really a feeling out process. We're trying to figure out who our leaders are and they're also trying to figure out where they fit in on the team as far as leadership goes. So that's an important area that's starting to materialize here.

MG: Finally, from what you've seen in your career and especially the past two weeks, what qualities do you think define a USHL-caliber player?

BM: There's obviously a certain amount of genetic talent that can come in many different areas - the grinders and that much better, the big guys are that much bigger, the tough guys are that much tougher and the goal scorers are at the elite level of what they do. One of the biggest things I've noticed is the commitment level. These players are very, very committed and essentially conduct themselves as professionals and that's what we expect out of them. You definitely see that in much more from the players at this level.

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United States Hockey League Stories from August 31, 2009


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