Van Helvoirt begins his third year as head coach of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s Victoria Cougars. Grimwood begins his first head coaching stint at the Jr. B level, taking the reigns of the Peninsula Panthers after two years as an associate coach under Van Helvoirt.
“I always expected (Grimwood) to move on to bigger and better things,” said Van Helvoirt, prior to the two teams’ preseason meeting on Thursday night.
The two have plenty of mutual respect, having developed a strong relationship over the past three years.font>
They first coached together as associates under Craig Didmon during the 2006-07 season, when the Cougars went on to win the Cyclone Taylor Cup as provincial champions.
Van Helvoirt took the reins after Didmon departed to take the associate coach position he still holds with the Jr. A Victoria Grizzlies.
But it wasn’t the first time the two crossed paths. They both attended Mt. Doug secondary, but went separate ways in hockey. Van Helvoirt played four years with the Cougars and is the second highest scorer in team history, with 252 points in 199 games.font>
Grimwood played for the Jr. B Saanich Braves and Jr. A Victoria Salsa (Grizzlies) before playing and studying at Red Deer College.
When new Panthers’ owners Charity and Jackson Penney offered Grimwood the head coaching job this summer, he mulled it over for weeks, consulting with Van Helvoirt.
“Mark’s definitely a potential Jr. A coach, who I think is the best coach at our level in the province. I’ve learned a lot from him,” said Grimwood.font>
Of himself, he said “I feel (the Cougars) took someone who came in pretty raw and within three years, developed a coach that someone was willing to hire.”
The two coaches agree every Cougars versus Panthers game this year will be a lot of fun for both.)
“I supported him 100 per cent in his decision,” said Van Helvoirt. “It’ll be bittersweet to play him, but I look forward to it nonetheless.”
Their approach to coaching on and off the ice isn’t just similar, it’s the same.
“One hundred per cent,” said Van Helvoirt. “We’ve been talking a lot over the years.”
That philosophy is one that ensures only motivated, committed players will be accepted to play on the Cougars and Panthers this season, even if that means passing up a player who’s more talented than the rest.
“In the long run you win with good kids. Their character and work ethic improves over the course of the year and sustains in the playoffs,” said Grimwood.
The Cougars open the season at home, Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7:15 p.m. against the Saanich Braves in the Archie Browning Sports Centre.
