Music: {allcanada} GELINAS FANS FLAMES WITH 'FRESH AIR'

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

{allcanada} GELINAS FANS FLAMES WITH 'FRESH AIR'

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The Calgary Herald makes a salient point that much of the talk as this abbreviated season begins to find shape has centred around the newbies introduced into the Flames' fold, and the impact they'll eventually exact on the whole. Around Bob Hartley and Jacques Cloutier. Jiri Hudler and Roman Cervenka. Dennis Wideman and Sven Baertschi.

Largely lost in the shuffling of the Flaming C deck has been good-guy Marty Gelinas, the overtime hero of springtime '04, who grabs a whistle, a sweatsuit and a clipboard and embarks on a new, ambitious career as Flames' first-year assistant coach absolutely cold turkey. From scratch. Square 1. Learning as he goes along, day to day, practice to practice, period by period (all cliches apply).

"I love my job," he says. "I love what I'm doing. I love to try make an impact, a difference.

"This is the closest thing to being a player. So it's been a good transition. It'd be nice to have more wins but we'll keep working at that. A lot of teaching is involved. It's different than just playing, where you come to the rink for three hours. These are 10-to-12-hour days, looking at tape, trying to make a difference. It's been challenging but very rewarding, too."

The man who hired Gelinas saw in him the basic ingredients required to fit the role: A knowledge of the game. Integrity. Adaptability. Sacrifice.

The rest will develop with experience.

"For me," says Hartley, "I never asked myself: 'How long until he adjusts?' or 'How well will he adjust?' Because he's so passionate about what he's doing. This is a guy that always wants to do well, whatever he's doing. He's asking questions, looking to improve. Lots of times I sit with him after practice, we discuss things and I tell him 'In this drill next time, do this or do that.' He's so receptive. He's eager to learn.

"Marty Gelinas, in his career as a player, never cut a corner. So he's not going to start now.

"He brings fresh air. He's a great partner for us."