ORONO, Minn -- Beginning his second year behind the bench at Orono Mark Parrish learned a lot about himself and the job.
“I'm still learning the game learning to communicate with the kids learning to communicate with my coaches,” Parrish said at a recent practice. “There seems to be a new challenge daily that I wasn't prepared for.”
Earning respect from the kids has never been one of those. Because when you've got the resume that Parrish does -- it speaks for itself.
“You know you're going to come to the rink every day and learn something new,” said senior Mark Willson. “There's no lack of knowledge.”
No lack of knowledge or heart. Coaching is now Parrish's passion. And while wins and losses are how you are judged he values and see the value in hard work.
“They've been great,” says Parrish. “They have listened they've done everything we've asked they've worked their butts off.”
” He pushes us every day,” said senior Nick Anderson. “And if we take one shift off in games he lets us know pretty good.”
Parrish has lost his share of games as a player but it’s the ones in his first year as a coach that bug him the most.
“I have more trouble sleeping now as a coach as coach after losses,” Parrish says with a smile. “My first thought is always what could I have done differently.”
He's not alone in those decisions. In fact he's been getting help from his coaching staff which includes another former NHLer, Matt Cooke.
“Having him just have come out of the NHL and into coaching, the look on the kids faces the first day he came to practice was spectacular,” says Parrish.
The shock as worn off now though. Replaced instead with the determination to improve on last season's defeat in the section semifinals. With Parrish pushing the pack anything is possible.