A familiar face to many of the Goodrich hockey players will be their new coach next season.
Brian Tangney, who has helped coach the Martians? I-69 league entry the past three seasons, will be the team’s coach for the 2006-07 season. Tangney’s wife, Chrys, has been the team manager for three seasons under previous coach Doug Van Kuren.
‘It was actually kind of fun when I announced to the kids that I was taking the position,? Tangney, a Goodrich resident, said. ‘I was pretty excited, to say the least. This past spring has been tough on the kids. They didn’t know who their coach was going to be?
During the fall and spring, Goodrich competes in I-69 offseason leagues against teams such as Lapeer East and West, Swartz Creek, Durand, Brandon, Davison, Kearsley and Flint Powers. He said both the Martians? spring and fall leagues are typically comprised of 12 games, and last about 2-1/2 to 3 months.
‘Typically, spring is a time to take a look at kids coming up to the high school level, and evaluate if they’re ready for high school or at a more competitive level for them,? he said. ‘Fall is a time to get ready for the season.?
During the upcoming months, Tangney said he will bring in outside instructors to help the Martians improve their skills.
‘We’re starting to bring professional help as far as developing the kids,? he said. ‘We help them with their technical skills and their stick handling, and we bring in a professional goalie coach.
One of the instructors Tangney plans to bring in is Kenny Fields, the executive director with Skating Dynamics, who will be working with the Goodrich team Tuesday, Aug. 22.
‘He travels throughout the U.S. and Canada with different levels of players, from squirt and Pee Wee to college,? Tangney said. ‘He is awesome with those kids. They work hard and don’t even realize it.?
A key position Tangney will have to fill with the Martians for the upcoming season is goaltender. Brad Smith, the Martians? goalie for the past three years, has graduated, and the Martians did not have a second goalie on the roster last season.
‘That’s a huge loss, to say the least,? he said. ‘Brad was an outstanding goalie. He’s welcome to all our practices. He has a lot to offer as a goalie and as an outstanding individual.?
As of this point, Tangney said there are three goalies in the Goodrich system that could fill the void. ‘I’m not sure who’s coming out for the team yet,? he said. ‘We’ll see come fall.?
Goodrich hockey has been a part of Tangney’s family for several years. In Chrys? role as team manager, Brian said she ‘did everything except coach the team.?
‘Doug (Van Kuren) will tell you himself he relied on her for a lot of things,? he said.
Also, son Steve played for the Martians before graduating last month; he will be attending Michigan Technological University in Houghton this fall. The couple also has a younger son, Brendan, 12, who will be heading into the seventh grade.