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THD 1 tll ANALY "A Family Tradition for 127 Years" LN] ! PORT PERRY STAR - Lv sera vara tana OF Tuesday, March 30, 1993 - 33 George Burnett praised by players and staff By Scott Anderson Port Perry Star George Burnett has a bright future ahead of him in the Na- tional Hockey League. i This is the consensus of both the players and coaching staff of the Edmonton Oilers. Burnett, a native of Port Perry and former ModJacks' coach, was named the coach of the Oilers' Cape Breton farm team last May. Since then he has impressed many people in the organization. "What I know about George Burnett is that he's well orga- nized, he knows the game very well and works well with peo- ple," Oilers coach Ted Green told the Port Perry Star during a recent practice at Maple Leaf Gardens. Organization, knowledge and the ability to work with young players are ingredients needed in a minor league coach. It was these same qualities that landed him the job in Cape Breton, said Green who origi- nally interviewed Burnett for an assistant coach's position with the NHL club. Despite interviewing him for the position, coach Green ad- mitted he was not too familiar with Burnett as he has not had the opportunity to work with him. But from what he's seen and heard from others, he's im- pressed. Jo "He has a very mature atti- tude about the game. I think he's a very intelligent person and he loves the game of hockey. He knows it very well. And I think he's got a lot of qualities that will make him an excellent (NHL) coach one day," said Green. q The Edmonton coach may not "be too familiar with Burnett, but the players who have had stints in the minors know him quite well. In fact centreman Bill Mac- Dougall says Burnett is a major reason why he is playing in the NHL today. GEORGE BURNETT MacDougall was called up to join the Oilers on March 15 after playing 66 games with Cape reton. He credits the coach with making this move happen as Burnett relied on him heavily during the games. In the past 10 games, MacDougall was play- ing 30 to 35 minutes per game. "With the more ice time you get, the better you're going to play and the better numbers __ you're going to put up. So I give credit to him," he said. And in the games he has played this season some impres- sive numbers have resulted. In 65 games he has 39 goals and 43 assists for 82 points. The hot hand continued in the NHL as he had a goal and assist in his first two games since the call up. Just as MacDougall has pro- gressed under Burnett, many note that the rookie coach has also improved. MacDougall says there is a great difference from coaching junior players in Niagara Falls, where Burnett toiled last year, than the same role at the profes- sional level. "First year in coaching the pros, he's going through a learn- ing process himself and learn- ing how to deal with men in- stead of kids," MacDougall said. "I think from the start of the year to the middle of the year he changed so much in learning how to deal with us." It is a personal approach to coaching and relating to the players that many appreciate in Burnett. They say they are more comfortable and know what is expected of each of them. Burnett holds meetings with his players every 10 games to assess the past play and outline what is expected of each player. The players like this personal touch in their playing careers. "George is very stern. He doesn't want guys taking ad- vantage of him and at the same time the guys don't want the coach all over their backs all the time and he's not like that. He tells you what he wants and he gives a little and you give a little too and that's the way it's got to Blackstock Curling Club elects new executive The executive for next year's Blackstock Curling Club was selected on Saturday during the club's annual meeting in Blackstock. The executive Is (from left) Lois Flett, mixed league rep., Dave Aldred, mixed league rep., Mark Gra- ham, president, Dave Petrie, past president, Janet Van Camp, secretary and Jodie Duff, Mero) ats Tracey Cochrane, mixed league rep., Carol Gray, vice-president, Fred Ford, men's league rep., Jack Massie, mix league rep., and Merrill Van Camp, men's league rep. (Left) Keith Van Camp and Merlin Suggitt were recognized as winners of the second and first half of the men's league respectively. go," said winger Steve Rice. Rice played 51 games in Cape Breton this season before being called up on December 30. He also credits Burnett with keeping him motivated and driving him to the next plateau. "I can never say he was a de- terrent. When I was in the mi- nors he kept me motivated and kept me working out and I'm hereright now and I'm happy." The ability to communicate with his players is a common comment. Burnett has the abili- ty to communicate to his players and keep them motivated. He "outlines their roles and keeps the players focussed. - "He's a coach that believes . veterans should lead youth and I agree with that also," said Shjon Podein, a winger who played 38 games in the minors this season. "He tends to talk to the young kids, but he talks to the vete- rans in a way where he wants them to lead the rookies or the younger players. So it's a team concept." Burnett has also outlined roles for the players to follow. This is one element of the game that many of the players, espe-: cially the veterans, appreciate. "The only kind of role he told me was to be a veteran and be a leader and act like a leader. And I think that's pretty much any role a veteran's got to take any- way," Podein said. "From George I think I was re- minded more of what it takes to get to the next level. The inten- sity it takes to play every night, what it takes to be a profession- al'and what it means to be a pro- fessional." Podein, who has played three season in Nova Scotia under two different coaches, says Bur- nett has brought "a youthful en- thusiasm" to the team as well as adifferentlevel of intensity. INTRODUCING GM GOODWRENCH SERVICE PLUS Great If there is one knock against Burnett, it is his age. Just 31, many felt he is too young to be coaching at the level he has ris- entogofast. Fr But many haven't considered the route he has taken to get to the present coaching position. Before taking the Cape Breton job he spent three seasons with- the Ontario Hockey Leagues Niagara Falls Thunder as coach and general manager. He was twice named Coach of the Year in the OHL. L He also had stints as coach in Uxbridge, McGill University, Seneca College and Port Perry. He also served as assistant coach of the Oshawa Generals. Burnett also had brief play- ing career in: junior hockey spending two seasons in New- market and three seasons 1n- London. : "I don't think any really looked at his age," said Podein. "They see him as a new coach coming to a team and respect him as a coach." ~ Despite his 'age, many see Burnett as an up and coming coach with many years to come inthe NHL. "I think he's got the drive, the intensity and the ability and the talent as a coach to make it to thislevel," said Podein. = - "But whether it will be or not you will never know. It matters what breaks you get. It matters how well you might do in the mi- nors and your record in the mi- nors. And a lot of that a coach doesn't have control over be- cause the players do. They've got todoit for them." Whether it is the breaks or not that will push Burnett to the next plateau, atleast one coach who has been through the sys- tem is confidefit Burnett can makeit. a "I think his determination is tobe here and if he's determined he will," said Green. Timing LUBE, OIL & FILTER IN 29 MINUTES OR LESS OR THE NEXT ONE IS FREE. 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