New coaches offer unique perspective
OGDEN – A quick look down the Utah State bench at a USU hockey club game will show a lot of new faces on the team. Two of those faces are found on the coaching staff.
John Eccles, the director of hockey operations at the Eccles Ice Center, joined the staff as the goalies coach and Paul Amidon, a defenseman on last year’s team, traded in his skates and stick for a pair of loafers and a clipboard.
The addition of two new coaches has been beneficial to the team, Head Coach Jerry Crossley said.
“It’s always good to have some new blood, new ideas and new energy,” he said. “There’s been some challenges and stuff but we’re still trying to sort things out.”
Crossley said each coach brings something special to the team.
On top of the experience Eccles brings to the ice, Crossley said his connection to the ice center is an added asset in expediting scheduling processes and knowing what is going on at all times with the rink.
Along with the addition of Eccles, Crossley said the team will also benefit from the youthful infusion of Amidon as a coach, with his experience playing with many members of the current team.
“That’s the good thing about having Paul there, he has that perspective as a player,” Crossley said. “That’s a real asset, Paul’s just a good, knowledgeable individual.”
The coaching experience has been exciting for both coaches early in the season. Amidon said he has experienced highs and lows after just two games.
“The low was definitely the loss to Weber,” Amidon said. “The high was our first home game against BYU, just seeing the home crowd turn out in support.”
The Aggies knocked off BYU 7-3 on Friday before falling 11-2 to the Wildcats in Ogden on Saturday.
As someone who was on the ice, pounding opposing players into the boards just seven months ago, Amidon said it is tough not being out there.
“When you have to sit back and watch and you can’t play yourself, it can be a little frustrating sometimes,” he said.
Amidon said he will bring his passion as a player into the coaching staff as he focuses mainly on guiding the defensive players. He said his playing experience will help him relate to the team.
Being able to relate to the team is also something that Eccles said he brings to the team.
As the goalies coach, Eccles must prepare sophomore Josh Groves and junior Chris Webber for each game and ensure they are focused and working as a team.
“They’ve got to help one another, even though there is only two of them,” Eccles said. “They go through so much, it’s so tough for them and you think that they’re your last defense, but a lot of times it’s got to be six guys working
together.”
Eccles said he has compassion for the goalies.
“There is a lot of pain for them, they’re the last ones if the puck goes in,” he said. “[Fans] don’t see the other five guys.”
Another advantage Eccles said he will have as a coach is experience with young people. As a father of an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old, he said he knows how to relate to the players.
On top of having two children the same age as many members of the team, Eccles also played hockey when he was in school. Eccles played for Ogden High School for two years and played for five years in Michigan as well.
“[Hockey is] just a love that I’ve had ever since I started playing when I was 12 years old,” he said. “If I wouldn’t have been here, I would have been playing in a game.”
When not coaching, spending time with his family, attending to his duties at the ice center or working his day job as the aquatics director for Logan City Parks and Recreation, Eccles plays in a night hockey league.
“I play hockey every night,” he said. “I skate every night.”
And where would Amidon be if he wasn’t coaching the team right now?
“I don’t know what else I’d do with my time; my whole life has been hockey,” Amidon said.
That is just fine with Crossley, who said he prefers having more than one assistant coach.
“It works good,” he said. “I like having that extra help and stuff to isolate problems.”
Crossley said the new coaches, along with strength and conditioning coach Ned Hillyard, are working hard to make the team successful.
“I’m really glad to have them on board,” he said. “I really appreciate their time and effort.”
-str@cc.usu.edu