After leading the Spitfires from rags to riches, Bob Boughner is after something else. Something more for himself. Something bigger. And something he'll have to return to the NHL to get. That's why he's taking the step back up to the big time, agreeing to become an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets under new head man, Scott Arniel. Arniel just got the job and wanted to put together a fresh, young staff with new ideas and little time for the Blue Jackets losing past. In Boughner, he's found the right wing man. An individual with passion, purpose and pedigree of the winning kind. Boughner will still retain a majority ownership stake in the Spits. Most of his heart will remain in Windsor anyway. Because all the people in Columbus really want is Bob Boughner's mind. As long they don't mind him leaving to become the 'number one' at some point, should work out for all.
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Showing posts with label Bob Boughner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bob Boughner. Show all posts
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Boughner unapologetic
"A handshake is a sign of respect" - Bob Boughner
Business is business. Family is family. In the OHL the two are often interwoven, prompting good hockey and at times bad blood. Spits' head coach, Bob Boughner has felt the results of both recently. Days before watching his team dominate its way to another league title, he watched a member of the "family" get swept up by the enemy. Yes, it still stings. And yes, the Spits are still incredibly angry over Kerby Rychel's selection by Barrie. For its part, Colts management says it was business. But Boughner says it should've been about family, and honouring it. That's something the Eastern champs, or chumps tonight, appeared not to do when they took Warren Rychel's son with the final pick of the first round.
Despite any joy deep down of winning that 2nd straight OHL championship, Boughner was still furious post game about what transpired at the draft. He was so upset he refused to shake the hand of Colts' head coach, Marty Williamson. It was minutes after the Spitfires won, behind the bench, and caught on camera. Attempting to read Boughner's lips when he pulled away from Williamson's gesture, he said something like "I ain't shaking your hand." But hey, don't quote me on it ;) Any way you want to interpret it that post game snub is big news in Barrie for different reasons than in Windsor. Down by the border where the 'us against the world' mentality is heavy, the Spitfires' head coach is being hailed as heroic. The team and it's many supporters, of course believe Bougher was standing up for his posse in denying Williamson's hand. To them, the diss was a proud showing of displeasure. And a warning, that the Windsor Spitfires will not be disrespected.
Even today Boughner has no remorse over what did or didn't happen on Tuesday. He actually seems even more pissed off by it, calling what the Colts did "malicious". Boughner might be overstating things a bit with that kind of rhetoric, but he's steadfast in his belief that Williamson and the Colts management group should have honoured Windsor's intentions. Or at the very least given the Spitfires the courtesy of a head's up that Kerby was on their hit list. Boughner insists his group might have made adjustments, hinting a deal could have been struck in order to secure the GM's kid. It didn't happen.
In the end, gamesmanship won out at the expense of sportsmanship. It's latest in an unfortunate, unapologetic and extremely interesting feud between OHL foes. Wonder what's next?
Further reading:
Brandon Bound
Over and Out
Son of a Spit! He's a Colt
Business is business. Family is family. In the OHL the two are often interwoven, prompting good hockey and at times bad blood. Spits' head coach, Bob Boughner has felt the results of both recently. Days before watching his team dominate its way to another league title, he watched a member of the "family" get swept up by the enemy. Yes, it still stings. And yes, the Spits are still incredibly angry over Kerby Rychel's selection by Barrie. For its part, Colts management says it was business. But Boughner says it should've been about family, and honouring it. That's something the Eastern champs, or chumps tonight, appeared not to do when they took Warren Rychel's son with the final pick of the first round.
Despite any joy deep down of winning that 2nd straight OHL championship, Boughner was still furious post game about what transpired at the draft. He was so upset he refused to shake the hand of Colts' head coach, Marty Williamson. It was minutes after the Spitfires won, behind the bench, and caught on camera. Attempting to read Boughner's lips when he pulled away from Williamson's gesture, he said something like "I ain't shaking your hand." But hey, don't quote me on it ;) Any way you want to interpret it that post game snub is big news in Barrie for different reasons than in Windsor. Down by the border where the 'us against the world' mentality is heavy, the Spitfires' head coach is being hailed as heroic. The team and it's many supporters, of course believe Bougher was standing up for his posse in denying Williamson's hand. To them, the diss was a proud showing of displeasure. And a warning, that the Windsor Spitfires will not be disrespected.
Even today Boughner has no remorse over what did or didn't happen on Tuesday. He actually seems even more pissed off by it, calling what the Colts did "malicious". Boughner might be overstating things a bit with that kind of rhetoric, but he's steadfast in his belief that Williamson and the Colts management group should have honoured Windsor's intentions. Or at the very least given the Spitfires the courtesy of a head's up that Kerby was on their hit list. Boughner insists his group might have made adjustments, hinting a deal could have been struck in order to secure the GM's kid. It didn't happen.
In the end, gamesmanship won out at the expense of sportsmanship. It's latest in an unfortunate, unapologetic and extremely interesting feud between OHL foes. Wonder what's next?
Further reading:
Brandon Bound
Over and Out
Son of a Spit! He's a Colt
Thursday, July 16, 2009
What about Bob?
One day he's playing in the NHL, the next he's grooming players for NHL. It's what Windsor Spitfires' head coach, Bob Boughner was meant to do. The proof is in the performance. In the three short years since he and his staff took the helm in Windsor, the Spits have been transformed from a laughing stock into a blue chip champ. And they're ahead of schedule, which makes what's going on by the border these days even scarier. They planted the seeds of a perennial winner, quickly tasted success, and fully expect an extended harvest...with or without a future Leaf.Speaking of the Leafs and Spitfires, they've got a lot in common. I touched that and more in my recent conversation with the two-time OHL coach of the year.
NJ: Can you believe how quickly you've had success as a junior hockey head coach and owner?
BB: I never had it in the back of my mind that I would retire and coach right away. I thought I would put the right people in place and play another year or two. But I started catching the coaching bug a bit (while in Colorado). I used to sit with Tony Granato and Joel Quenneville after practice and ask them a lot of questions. Then one thing leads to another and it was just the best decision for me and my family at the time. I had four kids and I wanted to settle down. Sometimes I look back and wish I didn't retire as early as I did, but things have been great. I'm making a career in coaching now and I'm still doing something I love. I'm in the game of hockey.
NJ: What was the first thought that crossed your mind when you won the Memorial Cup?
BB: One, that my whole family was in the stands. But two, probably Mickey Renaud. He meant a lot to our organization and every day we're reminded of him. Everyone wears an 18 on their hat or jogging suit or on the back of their helmet. We had fans in the stands hold a banner with the number 18 and I'm good friends with his mom and dad. I wish Mickey could've been here to experience this.
NJ: Kenny Ryan (Leafs 2nd round pick, Spits 7th rounder), is he as good as gone to Boston College?
BB: Kenny has to look at all of his options. He is committed (to Boston College). We have yet to really get in front of him. If we got the chance to maybe sit down and talk and try to sell our program, I think it's the best option for him personally and for us, but we don't like to pressure kids too much after they've made a decision. I'm hoping to have a conversation with him before not too long.
NJ: Is there still an outside shot Ryan chooses to join the Spitfires?
BB: I think so. Drafted that high in the 2nd Round (of the NHL draft). Now with the OHL scholarships we'll be able to offer, basically full rides to kids like Kenny and take care of their education, it comes down a hockey decision. Him and his family have to think if they want to spend four years at university, work towards that degree than turn pro later on or spend a year or two in what I believe is the best development league in the world and make that jump to the National hockey league. It comes down to a hockey decision. And again, it's a personal decision for him and his family.
NJ: Do you wonder why the OHL is not the number one choice for a lot of these kids?
BB: I do. I understand alot of these kids' decisions, coming from a different culture than the kids growing up in Canada, absolutely. Any kid would love to be in his position. Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler will go top 5 (in the NHL draft) next year, I'm sure. Austin Watson and Justin Shugg, there's going to be scouts following us every night. We have a brand new state of the art arena and the chance to win a Memorial Cup and possibly host a Memorial Cup a year later. Things are very positive here in Windsor and we'll sell our program to anybody who'll listen, but at the same time we've got to respect people's wishes.
NJ: Growing up in Windsor were you a Leafs fan or a Wings fan?
BB: I grew up a Wings' fan because of being so close. I try to stay out of it now (NHL allegiances), but I was happy to see Pittsburgh win.
NJ: What's with the connection between the Spitfires and Leafs?
BB: Brian (Burke) is very well respect by myself and Warren Rychel. The way we played and worked for everything that we got, we sort of made it the hard way and I think Brian appreciates that. The style, if you watch our team, the way we play, we try to emulate a hard, fast, grinding, tough team and I think that's the kind of team Brian likes. And again, we won. And everybody likes to associate themselves with a winning organization, winning players. Dallas Eakins and myself played together for a couple of years. He's a guy that I respect very very much. I think there's a bit of a connection there. I think Toronto is going in absolutely 100 percent the right direction. They're under a great leader and I'm excited to see the turn around.
NJ: What was the first thought that crossed your mind when you won the Memorial Cup?
BB: One, that my whole family was in the stands. But two, probably Mickey Renaud. He meant a lot to our organization and every day we're reminded of him. Everyone wears an 18 on their hat or jogging suit or on the back of their helmet. We had fans in the stands hold a banner with the number 18 and I'm good friends with his mom and dad. I wish Mickey could've been here to experience this.
NJ: Kenny Ryan (Leafs 2nd round pick, Spits 7th rounder), is he as good as gone to Boston College?
BB: Kenny has to look at all of his options. He is committed (to Boston College). We have yet to really get in front of him. If we got the chance to maybe sit down and talk and try to sell our program, I think it's the best option for him personally and for us, but we don't like to pressure kids too much after they've made a decision. I'm hoping to have a conversation with him before not too long.
NJ: Is there still an outside shot Ryan chooses to join the Spitfires?
BB: I think so. Drafted that high in the 2nd Round (of the NHL draft). Now with the OHL scholarships we'll be able to offer, basically full rides to kids like Kenny and take care of their education, it comes down a hockey decision. Him and his family have to think if they want to spend four years at university, work towards that degree than turn pro later on or spend a year or two in what I believe is the best development league in the world and make that jump to the National hockey league. It comes down to a hockey decision. And again, it's a personal decision for him and his family.
NJ: Do you wonder why the OHL is not the number one choice for a lot of these kids?
BB: I do. I understand alot of these kids' decisions, coming from a different culture than the kids growing up in Canada, absolutely. Any kid would love to be in his position. Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler will go top 5 (in the NHL draft) next year, I'm sure. Austin Watson and Justin Shugg, there's going to be scouts following us every night. We have a brand new state of the art arena and the chance to win a Memorial Cup and possibly host a Memorial Cup a year later. Things are very positive here in Windsor and we'll sell our program to anybody who'll listen, but at the same time we've got to respect people's wishes.
NJ: Growing up in Windsor were you a Leafs fan or a Wings fan?
BB: I grew up a Wings' fan because of being so close. I try to stay out of it now (NHL allegiances), but I was happy to see Pittsburgh win.
NJ: What's with the connection between the Spitfires and Leafs?
BB: Brian (Burke) is very well respect by myself and Warren Rychel. The way we played and worked for everything that we got, we sort of made it the hard way and I think Brian appreciates that. The style, if you watch our team, the way we play, we try to emulate a hard, fast, grinding, tough team and I think that's the kind of team Brian likes. And again, we won. And everybody likes to associate themselves with a winning organization, winning players. Dallas Eakins and myself played together for a couple of years. He's a guy that I respect very very much. I think there's a bit of a connection there. I think Toronto is going in absolutely 100 percent the right direction. They're under a great leader and I'm excited to see the turn around.
Is Nazem Kadri top 6 ready?
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