New Bears head coach adds some reinforcements to coaching staff

Having a Habscheid stand behind the home Art Hauser Centre bench is nothing new, of course. Bailey’s uncle Marc Habscheid has been the Prince Albert Raiders’ head coach since midway through the 2014-15 season—after both coaching and playing at the NHL and international tournaments.

Bailey said she learned a lot from uncle Marc and was inspired by his hockey journey to pave one herself in the coaching realm and help the female hockey community.

“Having an uncle succeed in the hockey world has definitely helped me realize that I can provide an impact to the hockey community, specifically to female hockey,” Bailey said. “I’ve had a lot of fun around him… All the Habscheid clan, we’re pretty passionate about the game. Hopefully, I don’t get kicked out like him or fired up like him, but I’m pretty passionate about the game as well.”

Bailey also takes a lot of inspiration from her father Robert, who passed away almost a year ago, as well as her mother Marilyn. Bailey said she and her father both loved the game together.

“I really know he’d be looking down on me proud of jumping in this role. Obviously, I’m looking for his guidance, too,” Bailey said. Bailey has been a trainer and coach with the Foxes at the U15 AA level, as well as instructing hockey camps.”

Bears assistant coach Curtis Olsen draws up a play for the team during Wednesday’s practice. (Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff)

Like a rock

He may be from The Pas, Man., but Brad Rock has lived up to his last name is terms of his stability in the Prince Albert minor hockey season. Rock has coached at virtually every minor hockey level, as well as “a cup of tea” with the OCN Blizzard, the MJHL Junior A club close to his hometown, dating back to the mid-1990s.

Rock was started on the staff for the U18 AA Foxes this year and comes in having experience in the same age group.

“It’s exciting because there’s an endgame. The Esso Cup is our endgame,” Rock said about the Bears’ hosting the national Female U18 AAA championship this April. So basically, you work from now until the Esso Cup, you get them going in the same direction, and once you go there, you’re going to the Esso Cup full bore.”

Young and restless

After Jeff Willoughby resigned from the Bears during his 12^th season as the Bears’ head coach, Young was promoted from assistant coach to replace Willoughby.

“It’s been good, obviously with mixed emotions anytime you’re in a situation like Jeff was where he resigned. But in saying that, he expected me and Curtis to move forward with the team so we’ve done that. Just getting the girls to understand that it’s time to work and time to work hard.”

Young will take his head coaching position back in the middle of the Art Hauser Centre bench, after being the head coach of the Raiders midway from 2011-12 season and a full year in 2012-13. Young was with the Raiders from 2008-13 as the team’s associate coach and assistant general manager.

His daughter Kaebree got to learn during that time what it was like to be the daughter’s coach, helping the two for this year as Kaebree is one of Young’s forwards on the Bears.

“It’s always different, any parent that coaches their kid knows. Kaebree grew up when I was with the Raiders, so she gets it,” Young said. “But in saying that, we keep the parenting and the hockey separate, and it goes pretty good.”

The Bears will take on the Notre Dame Hounds twice this weekend, on Saturday at Sunday. Both games are scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW

by Jeff D’Andrea

New Bears head coach adds some reinforcements to coaching staff

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