Music: {allcanada} Jets coach Claude Noel focused on team building

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

{allcanada} Jets coach Claude Noel focused on team building

It's just over a week before the NHL regular-season hits the ice, and Winnipeg Jets head coach Claude Noel - like the rest of the league's coaches - is working hard preparing his team this season.

Team chemistry is one of Noel's priorities and the Jets got a taste of it on their extended road trip to St. John's to play in the Kraft Hockeyville game against the Ottawa Senators Monday.

Before, I get more into the Jets season, I want to say thank you to all the great hockey fans in Newfoundland!

It was Conception Bay South that won the much coveted Kraft Hockeyville title, but it was at Mile One Centre in St. John's where the Winnipeg Jets took it to the Ottawa Senators 3-1 in pre-season action as part of the grand prize, which also included $100,000 in arena upgrades for the Robert French Memorial Stadium.

The hospitality in Newfoundland was spectacular and, as advertised, Kraft Hockeyville once again showcased the impact that hockey has on the people of Canada. One of my favourite parts of this weekend's Kraft Hockeyville celebrations was sailing alongside captain Stephen Marshall in Conception Bay, watching the beautiful sunset and of course talking hockey!

Great job to everyone that was involved - what a show you put on!

Avoiding distractions, team building

I had my first opportunity to speak with Noel over the weekend.

Noel is working to build his team and make his players feel as comfortable as possible, while delicately balancing the excitement and passion of Jets fans (which will no doubt surround his team throughout the season).

It's no small task when you consider the changes this team has had to go through as it deals with relocation from Atlanta, plus a new group of people running the show. The Jets finish their pre-season this Friday, Sept. 30 and then have a much-needed nine-day break before they start the regular season at home to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, Oct. 9 (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 5 p.m. ET).

Just before the start of the regular season, and once Winnipeg's roster is finalized, Noel will hold his first official team meeting. Noel says the content of the meeting will be to review his style and philosophies, refocus the team's goals and make sure the team erases all outside distractions.

Noel will also put his players and staff through a team-building rowing exercise in Winnipeg. The team will spend three hours on the water learning about rowing and then five boats filled with Jets players and staff will race off against one another for bragging rights for the rest of the season.

Could WHL be next in Winnipeg?

The Western Hockey League has enjoyed some success in NHL markets, so it begs the question: Is Winnipeg a WHL option in the future?

WHL commissioner Ron Robison thinks so, but the league hasn't had any formal discussions with anyone at this stage.

"Several parties have expressed interest in bringing a WHL team to Winnipeg over the past 10 years," he said. "I have also not spoken to Mark Chipman to determine their interest. Given that we do not envision expansion in the future, we will not be in a position to consider Winnipeg unless a relocation of an existing franchise would occur.

"Now that Winnipeg is an NHL market we believe we could co-exist with the Jets given our success in Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton."

Kovalchuk & Larsson: Power play buddies?

After Peter DeBoer was named head coach of the New Jersey Devils this summer, one of the first calls he made was to Ilya Kovalchuk. The Devils winger was already excited about the upcoming season.

DeBoer has heard the positives on Kovalchuk and watched him play plenty in the South East Division while DeBoer was with Florida and Kovalchuk in Atlanta.

During Devils training camp, Kovalchuk has shown his skill and enthusiasm on the ice - and could be off to a good start to the season with the potential of playing with right-handed shooting defenceman and youngster Adam Larsson on the power play.

New Jersey didn't have a right-shot defenceman option on the man advantage last season, and these two could click the Devils power play.

There is one thing that DeBoer is conscious of, and that is making sure that Kovalchuk has help. Larsson could be that player to boost Kovalchuk, who got off to a slow start on the scoresheet last season.