As tough decisions go, this one looked harder than it was.
When Grandview Steelers long-time head coach Aldo Bruno decided that the past season would be his last behind the bench, he did so knowing that the program was on a good footing for his handpicked successor.
Helping things, too, was the fact that Bruno was stepping away from the bench, but not from the club.
The Steelers will begin a new phase this season with Stefan Matic taking over the head coaching duties from Bruno, who has overseen the squad for 20 years. As the veteran skipper describes it, timing was a big part of the decision.
“It’s an exciting time for the club,” said Bruno, who maintains the title as governor and general manager. “We’ve promoted Stefan to head coach, and with his coaching and playing experience I feel it’s in great hands.”
He chuckled when asked if he envisioned his management style to be akin to B.C. Lions’ head honcho and recently-unretired coach Wally Buono.
“I’m definitely going to concentrate more on running the organization, managing and promoting the club,” he said. Since taking on an ownership stake in 2008 – also the year when the Steelers won a provincial B banner – he’s worn nearly every hat in the business. Now, it’s time to pass one hat to someone else.
Matic, 30, says his task has been made easier by the strong stewardship from Bruno and the ownership group.
“I’m extremely excited,” said Matic. “Aldo has passed a large baton to me and he’s given me so much knowledge and experience over the past four seasons (as an assistant coach)… We’re going to have a strong team but exactly who we have depends on what happens over the next month at other junior camps.”
The Steelers are already midway through its own tryout camp, with 35 kids still on the ice vying for positions. Although most veterans are in camp now, many of them – and some of the new recruits – will venture off to attend junior A and major junior camps in the coming weeks.
That makes predicting the season-opening lineup a lot like guessing what Donald Trump will say next.
“I think our defensive core is pretty strong,” remarked Bruno. “Last year we had more veterans coming back but I’m projecting eight to nine will be here. It’s a good balance, but there is still time for players to play their way onto the lineup.”
Front and centre, at least on offence, will be 20-year-old Adam Rota and 19-year-old Jeffrey Wong, who could be two-thirds of a dynamic attack, said Matic. Each scored 16 times last year, and are creative with the puck.
On the blueline, the new coach said 6-foot-5 Lucas Mercer, 20, will be one major piece to the puzzle.
Grandview inked three players from its evaluation camp in June – forwards Mateo Coltellaro of Burnaby and Jacob Siebenga of Cloverdale, and Surrey defenceman Brett Cox.
“Coltellaro has got some good offensive skills and his game is about putting up points,” said Matic. “(Cox) has been around our organization for two years and worked well with the coaching staff and put in the work to be in the mix.
“We saw (Siebenga) play at a Christmas tournament and our eyes were drawn to him.”
As to what players can expect, the new coach said he likes to see quickness and puck possession.
“My style of play is definitely a transition game,” said Matic of how he wants his teams to think. “I like speed on the puck. We may have to sit back on specific occasions, but I want them to skate and forecheck.”
A self-described hard-nosed player who went on to earn an NCAA scholarship at RIT, Matic said the focus of hockey has shifted a lot in the past 10-12 years.
“Hockey’s changed a lot since I played, as now players push themselves more, are working at more things to improve and reach the next level,” he said. “I definitely wasn’t an offensive stud but I considered myself a two-way player, defensively sound… Now there are so many opportunities for players, colleges and universities as well as junior, where you can play at a high level.”
In the past 10 seasons, Grandview posted seven years of winning hockey, although never owned the best record during the regular season. In 2007-08, the club finished third at 26-19-3, but rose above the rest in the playoffs and two other challengers at provincials to skate off with the B.C. title.
Grandview visits Ridge Meadows on Friday for its first exhibition test, then hosts Ridge Meadows on Saturday, and Aldergrove on Sunday. Both home games are 4 p.m. starts at the Burnaby Winter Club.
The Steelers launch the 2016-17 regular season on Sept. 8 in Richmond.
