SASKATOONEXPRESS - June 4-10, 2018 - Page 4
It was Love at first sight for Blades GM Darren Steinke Saskatoon Express itch Love left Everett, Washington as a Silvertips hero, and now he wants to earn that same respect in Saskatoon as the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades. Love was introduced as the Blades new head coach last week, replacing Dean Brockman, who was fired on March 18. The native of Quesnel, B.C., signed a contract for four seasons, with a club option for a fifth campaign. Love originally joined the Silvertips for their inaugural WHL campaign in 2003-2004 as a rugged defenceman and helped them advance to the league championship series. He was the Silvertips captain in his over-age WHL season in 2004-2005. After playing six seasons in the minor professional ranks, in 2011 Love became the first former Silvertips player to rejoin the club as an assistant coach. He was the Silvertips assistant coach and assistant to the general manager this past season as Everett made its second appearance in the WHL final after finishing third overall in the WHL regular season standings at 47-20-2-3. “Don’t get me wrong, this was a tough decision,” said Love, who will turn 34 in June. “I’ve spent many years there — nine years in total as a player and a coach out of that 15-year history of that franchise. “It was time for me to be a head coach.”
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About a year ago, the Blades hired Love’s father, Harley, as a scout. Shortly thereafter, Blades general manager Colin Priestner met Mitch and remembered his firm handshake and sense of optimism. When it came time to interview candidates for the Blades head coach position, Priestner thought Love might be the guy the Blades wanted. “I just got a gut feel about him very early,” said Priestner. “I really wanted to trust that. “I trusted a lot of people I spoke to that worked with him, coached with him and played for him. I just literally have not heard anything other than very, very positive from everybody.” Harley was on hand for the introductory press conference to announce Mitch as Blades head coach. During four of Mitch’s seven seasons on the Everett coaching staff, Harley was a Silvertips scout. The father enjoyed the fact he would get to work with his son on the same WHL franchise again. “First of all, I am very proud as a parent, and I am excited for him,” said Harley. “He has worked hard to get to this point. He’ll be a good fit for this franchise.” Harley said Mitch brings a number of good traits from his time in Everett that will help him with the players in Saskatoon. “He is a good communicator with players,” said Harley. “He is a teacher, and he cares. “I think that the players will like that approach.”
Mitch Love will be the new head coach of the Saskatoon Blades. (Photo by Darren Steinke) While Mitch was with the Silvertips, he was an assistant coach for Canadian teams at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge in 2015 and 2016. One of his first orders of business with the Blades will be to find an assistant coach to work with returning assistant coach Ryan Keller. He is thankful to Blades owner Mike Priestner and Colin Priestner for giving him a chance to be the team’s head coach. Love said it will be easy to see his style.
“I am passionate about everything I do,” said Love. “I get a little fiery on the bench at times. “I want our players to play with that kind of jam too. I want us to be a team that comes to the rink with smiles, that comes to the rink understanding there is going to be work in place, but we can have fun doing that. This has got to be a place they want to come hang out.” (You can see more of Darren Steinke’s work in his online blog stankssermon. blogspot.ca.)
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