The Drayton Valley Thunder have a new leader at their helm as they head into the 2022-2023 season.
Sean Brown, a former National Hockey League player, has stepped into the role of General Manager and Associate Coach. “It’s been nice to get to know the kids since I’ve [started the role] and kind of see what makes them tick,” says Brown.
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Brown spent his NHL career playing for the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, and Vancouver Canucks before heading to Europe to play. After that he says he worked with the Edmonton Oil Kings before settling down and starting a family.
Now, he’s excited to be part of the Thunder family. “They’re a motivated group of kids. They’ve had success, had a taste of it, and they want more,” he says. The team is already motivated thanks to their past success, says Brown, and that makes him even more excited to work with them.
Brown says his wife has roots in Drayton Valley, and his son is on the team as well. He’s happy to be here and has always wanted to get involved with the Alberta Junior Hockey League in some way.
He views the team as a stepping stone for the players on their way to University or further their career and wants to continue to help them out. “We’ve had some players move on, but that’s what this program is about,” he says.
The kids from last year will now be the role models for the new players on the team, he says. “We just want to make sure that we create an environment where kids are in a position to succeed and are held accountable.”
When it comes to coaching, Brown says if he approaches things differently than previouscoaci Eric Thurston had in the past, it’s only because they are different people. “Everyone kind of has their own spin on how they like to do things and how they like to communicate and work with the kids.”
He says he wants the team to have the next man up mentality. His goal is to have the players come at opposing teams with waves of energy and enthusiasm, keeping up the pressure.
“With a team mentality, we’re only as strong as the weakest link,” says Brown. He says he’s played with these tactics in the past and has seen how successful they can be.
Brown says his hope is that everything he’s learned from past coaches, team mates, and playing the game will help the team. “I want to put these kids in a good situation and help them realize what a special opportunity they have.”
He says the team will be out and about in the community again, now that most Covid restrictions have been removed. The team will be involved with Drayton Valley Minor Hockey, but they will also have the opportunity to act as role models in their day-to-day lives. Many of the billet families have young children, and he says he wants his players to be someone the kids can look up to.
He says the next event people can expect to see the players at is the DV100.
The regular season starts on September 16, and the next home game will be on September 23.
