By Drew Wilson

Manson back with the Raiders

Oct 31, 2011 | 4:13 PM

Former player and assistant Coach Dave Manson is back with the Raider organization. The member of the 1985 Memorial Cup championship team and former assistant coach from 2002-09 was on the ice Monday working with the defense.

The 16 year NHL veteran said after practice he is thrilled to be back with the organization who put him on the Wall of Honour in 2007.

“It started last week with obviously Bruno's decision to step down as Coach and teams in the league have three coaches, some have four, so I got a call.”  

Manson joined the team after a two hour meeting Sunday with new Head Coach Steve Young who said the 16 year NHL veteran is a good fit for their restructured staff.

“The more I sat down and discussed things with him, the more I felt this is a guy we need we need to bring a board to help our hockey club”, said Young.

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“Everybody knows Dave Manson, and being a former Raider and his loyalty to the the organization, the professional games he has played. He is a guy who wants to help and I believe he can help our hockey club”. 

Manson has been on the coaching staff of the Midget AAA Mintos since 2009 and got a quick reminder of the quickness of the WHL pace, even in practice.

“Obviously the WHL is a very good league, very skilled league, the players are very good at this level:, said Manson.

“It's a lot quicker than Midget AAA, but the game is still the game, there are certain things that don't change about it. I'll see if we can adjust to those and make the little plays that happen over and over and over again and happen consistantly”.

The Raiders have given up 70 goals through 18 games so the defense has been under the microscope. However, Manson points out  responsibility for defense falls on all five skaters on the ice.

“A lot of people like to think it's just the six defensemen and defense in hockey today is about five guys and the goaltender, six guys including the goaltender and they have to be committed to defending their net, keeping pucks to the outside and it's hard work”.

Manson has been around the game all of his life. He said slumps are part of the game and breaking out of one is a process.

“I think everyone just has to be on the same page and we have to find a way to get a win and continue to make a few subtle little changes” said Manson.

“The biggest thing now is just to get to a consistant brand of hockey that will somehow eke out a win and hopefully that turns into a couple and try to put ourselves into a position to get back in the playoff race”.

Although Manson worked with the defense in Monday's practice, Young said the returning assistant will be a full fledged member of the coaching staff.

“He is another coach with our hockey club and he will be involved in everything we do”, said Young.

“We are going to have imput from Dave, Craig (assistant coach Craig Bedard) and myself and decisions will be made so we believe he is going to be an asset to our hockey club”. 

The Raiders have lost five in a row and 9-of-their-last-10 heading into Tuesday night's home game against the Calgary Hitmen. Their record of 4-12-1-1 leaves the team 9 points out of a playoff spot.

The Raiders trail Calgary by 1 point, but the Hitmen have played six fewer games. The Raiders also play Friday vs Lethbridge at the Art Hauser Centre and Saturday night in Swift Current.

Meanwhile winger T.J. Constant has been reassigned to the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior League. The 18-year-old had one goal in 15 regular season games and scored once during the playoffs against the Saskatoon Blades.

dwilson@rawlco.com