Young coach hopes to move up hockey ranks

The amount of time and effort required, combined with the responsibility associated with working with kids makes coaching minor hockey an unlikely position for most young adults to fill. But that doesn’t deter 22-year old Nick Orlando. Though his is one of the younger faces you might see behind the bench of local arenas, his age doesn’t detract from the quality of his work.

Orlando got a taste for coaching while helping out with a family friend’s team as a midget player and decided to pursue it the following year. He contacted Lakeshore Minor Hockey and was granted an Atom A team after going through the interview and screening process.

Last season he was at the helm of the Peewee AA Lakeshore squad that made it to the Dodge Cup provincials and is also the founder and owner of the Montreal Mustangs, a AAA summer hockey organization.

Registered with the government as a non-profit organization, the former summer project has turned into a serious affair. After icing just one team of 1996-born players last year, interest in the Mustangs is such that they will field two ’96-born teams, as well as a ’97-born and a ’98-born team this summer.

The team that he himself is coaching is made up of ’96 born players and will compete in the Super League, an elite level. They’re scheduled to compete in four tournaments over the summer, St. Hubert, the Victoria Day Classic (Ottawa), Rosemere and Pierrefonds, with the first one beginning on May 7.

Though it may be a slightly higher level of competition, Orlando doesn’t waver in his coaching philosophy: “I still play everyone fairly like I do during the winter season. The main thing for kids, no matter what league or what age is to have fun and to work hard. As long as my kids show the effort, I’m happy win, lose or draw.”

While he may have the minor hockey mentality down pat, Orlando doesn’t intend to coach kids for the rest of his life. This coming September he will have the opportunity to attend the University of Alberta, where he has been accepted in the Physical Education Department, if he chooses to attend. “My goal is to coach in Quebec Major Junior and eventually the pros. Obviously these aren’t easy jobs to get, so what the degree would afford me is the opportunity to coach a prep school, run their gym program and run their hockey team at the same time.”

Orlando is also considering going the NCAA or junior varsity route, opportunities which would provide him with valuable experience towards achieving his goal. Wherever he decides to ply his trade, there is demand for his services, usually a good indication of future success. Don’t be too surprised if you see him behind the bench at the major junior, college or university level sometime soon. His future is looking up.