Dec. 28, 2007

Named an assistant coach at Western Michigan in 2006, one of Marc Fakler's key duties with the Broncos is recruiting. He spends much of September and October on the road, traveling across the United States and Canada seeking new talent for his hockey squad. Even though Fakler is away from Kalamazoo for weeks at a time, he knows it's just part of the job.

Just Another Day on the Road...
By Marc Fakler

The month of September means one thing for a college hockey coach: Recruit, recruit, recruit. Without games to coach and the NCAA limit of eight hours of team activity per week in the preseason, the month of September allows for a lot of travel to see tournaments and league showcases. Junior A hockey leagues in both Canada and the U.S., 18-under and 16-under Midget AAA events, and preseason high school all-star leagues have all begun. There isn't one weekend where there is not a major scouting showcase to attend. Some weekends there are two or three, and maybe more competing for scouts' attention. In addition, leagues that provide traditionally strong recruiting areas such as the Ontario Provincial, British Columbia and Alberta Junior A leagues play games during the week to help fill our month.

During the span of September 7 through 30, I spent a total of three complete days at home in Kalamazoo. WMU associate coach Chris Brooks only had two more days at home for a total of five during that same time. I went on trips to Detroit, Toronto, Minneapolis and Sioux City, Iowa, while Chris covered Ontario and joined me in Minneapolis before spending a week in Alberta and finally meeting up with me again in Sioux City for the United States Hockey League (USHL) Fall Classic.

No matter how remote the city, I see the same coaches. Even though we compete against each other for players, the fraternity of college hockey coaches is a very close knit group. It is certainly a nice feeling to be in an arena in Olds, Alberta, or Smith Falls, Ontario, and see another coach I know. Hockey is such a small world.

My very supportive wife Michelle told me she was prepared for the hectic month. Our new golden retriever arrived at the house while I was gone during that time to help fill the void of my absence. She also continues to keep in contact with a network of friends from my previous coaching jobs. Some of her friends have a self-proclaimed support group of "hockey widows".

When I returned in early October for the beginning of practices, I wore a name tag when I went on the ice so that players would know who I was! The players had a good laugh before a tough skate that day. Our players are always interested in knowing about my next recruiting trip, especially if it involves a player they know or their former team.

Even with official practices in full swing and upcoming games on the docket, recruiting is still on an assistant coach's mind. This is a time when we see players again, make decisions and have recruits make visits to campus. I missed our opening exhibition game against the University of Windsor to attend the Alberta Junior Hockey League Showcase in Calgary. After my return for our practices and weekend series with Bentley College, there was a need to see games and make contact with players in the United States Hockey League instead of traveling with our team to Niagara University. I was home for two days of practice before traveling to Alberta for an extended trip of seven days.

On a trip such as my trek to Alberta I not only had my recruiting responsibilities on the road, but also I needed to help the team back home prepare for the games that I would not be attending. With the aid of the internet and the online CCHA Video Exchange, I was busy downloading video on opponents and sending clips for our team's weekly scouting report. I used my hotel room much like my office back at Lawson Arena.

The time spent on the road recruiting and traveling with the team to away games requires my suitcase to get packed and unpacked many times. No matter the destination or the duration of our scouting missions, there is always that "next" player to identify and recruit into the program. Those of us that are fortunate to be coaching college hockey know that the travel required is just a part of another day on the job.