Just one more

My best buddy in the whole world is one win away from joining a list that only 12 people in all of the hockey world is a part of. With a win tomorrow versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, he would reach 500 career wins. This is impressive for many reasons, but the fact that he has only been coaching in the NHL since late 1996, makes it all the more impressive.

I never think that Hitch gets enough credit for the work that he does as a coach. I met him towards the end of his tenure in Dallas after they won the cup, but I never paid much attention to his team other than watching the standings. After he went to Philly, I became an avid follower and have since turned into the self appointed assistant TO the head coach, GM, assistant coaches, and scouting staff. You could say I am a wee bit obsessed. In the time I have watched his teams develop, he has turned average players into good ones and good players into great ones. He has taken a pure goal scorers in Mike Modano, Simon Gagne and Rick Nash and turned them into world class two way players.

He is known to be very demanding and relentless but I don't see that demanding side of him. I do, however, see the relentless side. I see a guy who is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team be as prepared as they can be and willing to spend as many hours as necessary to do it. No stone goes unturned and no player gets off the hook.

I often get angry when other coaches are mentioned in the media over and above Hitch when I know he is a superior coach to them. I rant and rave and write letters and vent and Hitch's response is always: 'It's okay Cor, that stuff doesn't matter to me'. Well it matters to ME! I want him to get the props he deserves because there is nobody more keen and determined to raise the level of his teams' play than him. Not only do they improve, but they improve dramatically. Hitch has an ability to get a level of play out of players that they had never seen before, and often do not see again once they go separate ways. One or two players, that would be a coincidence, but the list of players to do this under Hitch is as long as the final minute of play when trying to protect a one goal lead--you know how long THAT minute can feel!

There were two excellent articles written on him today and I wanted to post them here:

The Hockey News article and the one from the Columbus Dispatch.

I am so proud of Hitch and the Jackets this year. I want nothing more than for the Jackets to make the playoffs and turn a few heads, but if it doesn't work out that way, I love how people are starting to take notice of the work he is doing. He is quietly going about his business, and for the first time ever, the Blue Jackets are relevant and will be for a long time.