A Note From Bear Part 1: We Will Be Okay
Dear 67s fans,
I just want to thank you for being with us on what was an incredible ride this season. Many of you have reached out to see if the coaches and players are OK given what happened and we thank you for that as well. Its still early in the process but I can tell you we will be OK. Like everybody, we just want to get through this, stay healthy and get back to playing hockey as soon as we can.
We did a video conference call with all the players after the announcement that the playoffs were cancelled to explain the situation, let them know were proud them and that were here for them. That was a tough call. A lot of guys will never wear the barber pole jersey again and never have another chance to compete for the Memorial Cup. They deserved more. Its heartbreaking.
Well be back in touch with the players this week doing exit interviews on video. Hopefully well all have a chance to get together for a face-to-face year-end event but its impossible to say right nowwe have to stay self-isolated like everybody else.
Graduating players like Mitch Hoelscher and Kevin Bahlthey know theyll be playing pro next season. But some guys, theyre at an intersectionthey dont know which way theyll be turning. Even Noel Hoefenmayer and Austin Keating are in that category. I deeply feel for those guys and everybody whos graduating without a pro contract in place. Some will be pros but some might have reached the end of the line.
Heading into this season, we graduated a lot of veteran players, so we didnt know for sure how good we could be. But everybody pushed together. Our veteran leadership group was fantastic. They made the young guys feel comfortable and needed, and they led by exampleworking hard, focusing on the process and playing as a team. Everybody really showed commitment and that made them a fun team to coach.
- Andr Tourigny
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Stay tuned for A Note From Bear Part 2: Looking Back, Moving Forward, which will be released on Thursday!
