MRU goal scorer

Mount Royal University men’s hockey coach Jean Laforest was recently named Alberta Collegiate Athletic Conference (ACAC) coach of the year.

When you congratulate Laforest on the honour, he smiles humbly and says, “Thank you.” But as he jumps to credit those around him —players, fellow coaches, administrators and everyone else under the sun — it becomes apparent that Laforest is here for more than a medal or a trophy.

“You know, one of my proudest moments since arriving here two years ago is seeing one of my players, now going into his fourth year, be eligible for a scholarship,” says Laforest proudly.

He says he really encouraged the player to aim for that goal off the ice and seeing him achieve it is one of his proudest moments since he joined Mount Royal two season back.

Best coach

Dustin Kimber, who was recruited to play for the Cougars two years ago after playing five years of Jr. A in Manitoba, says Laforest is “definitely the best coach I’ve ever played for along my path.

“He’s a great coach — but it’s more than his hockey knowledge,” says Kimber.

“He puts an emphasis on doing well in things away from the rink as well and he leads by example that way. His character really rubs off on the team. The values that he teaches and the importance he places on how you carry yourself off the ice makes a big difference in the locker room.”

In fact, Laforest takes time out of practice two or three times a week to chat with the players about how their schooling is going. Kimber says Laforest makes himself completely accessible away from the arena.

“Coming to a new city, and a new team without really knowing anybody can be hard, so having a guy like that as the coach really made a big difference for me,” adds Kimber.

Great support

Tim Callaghan, who played for Laforest last season as a forward on the Cougars and joined him behind the bench this year as an assistant coach says it’s tough to just pick one moment when Laforest went above and beyond the roll of an average coach.

“If people are struggling in class he’d do what he had to help them get tutors, if there’s something in your social life, with girlfriends or wives or whatever he was always available to help with that somehow if he could — he was there for whatever you needed,” says Callaghan.

“We all know that if you ever need a hand you can call Jean.”

Building relationships

Laforest brings a heavy resume to the Cougars program, having coached with Team Canada senior men’s program in the mid-1990’s and then professionally with the minor league affiliates of the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers.

When the opportunity opened up for him to return to Calgary, where he was stationed during his Team Canada tenure, he was excited about the new challenge.

“With the pros, the owners are worried about the bottom line — that’s winning and making money. So when you’re working with the players, all that matters is what’s going on at the rink. Hockey is their life,” says Laforest.

“But here we look at helping each student-athlete grow as a student, a person and a player. Hopefully by the end of their time here they’ve got all three of those balanced out. That’s one of the big reasons I was excited to come here. My vision of well-rounded excellence accords precisely with that of Cougars Athletics.”

While both Laforest and his team are disappointed about this year’s playoff run ending in a first-round defeat, Laforest is already encouraging his players to focus on their classes and to finish up the academic year strong.

It’s precisely that type of attitude that makes him one of the top varsity coaches in the province, whether he gets a plaque that says it or not.

Although the plaque is pretty nice, too.

— Steven Noble, March 11, 2010