Wally Bray has very high hopes for his team of hockey players this season. No one can argue that his expectations are completely justified. Since taking over as head coach of the Saint-John's Fog Devils in August 2009, Bray has led his troops to an Atlantic Major Midget Championship and a bronze medal at the annual Telus Cup Tournament.
The Fog Devils, now renamed the Privateers, have come roaring back this year. To say that the team impressed during exhibitIon play would be an understatement. The Privateers dominated their opponents throughout the pre-season, scoring thirty-nine goals, an average of eight per game, while their goaltenders only allowed four. But Bray and the rest of the hockey world will admit that exhibition games don't mean a thing once the regular season kicks into gear. For that reason, Bray is putting things into perspective for his team.
“The league is much more competitive this year. There's some really good teams out there, so there could be games where we'll score a lot of goals, but I don't expect many lopsided games. It's all about us focusing on the play at hand and staying healthy, injury-free,” Bray said.
That doesn't necessarily mean Bray is dimming the outlook on his team in any way. Every single one of Bray's men has the capacity to step onto the ice and perform well night after night. That's why he expects to seethe Privateers compete for another Atlantic Championship and hopes that they'll go for the gold when they host the Telus Cup next April. Saint-John's can make it happen thanks to the poise of hard-working newcomers and the leadership of eleven returning players.
“We're a different team this year, but we're a more balanced team. We're getting contributions from everyone and that's very important to our success,” he said.
Bray isn't exaggerating when he says that everyone on his team is contributing. During exhibition play, thirteen players scored at least one goal.
Bray's success surely stems from his passion for coaching hockey exclusively to young students of the game. Bray became interested in hockey at a very young age, not unlike other Canadian boys and girls. Enrolled in Saint-Bon's School in Newfoundland, he played hockey as an option while keeping his feet busy with soccer during the summer.
Sixteen years ago, the St-John's native decided to become a coach in order to instruct both his own children and young players. After finding considerable success in Bantam A and AAA leagues, Bray became assistant coach of the Fog Devils, and in 2009, Rick Babstock stepped down as head coach of the team and recommended Bray as his replacement.
Bray wasted no time accomplishing success at the helm of his team, and his proudest moments with the Fog Devils happened over the last year when they won both the provincial championship and a bronze medal at the Telus Cup.
“We went into the Telus Cup very pleased and we left happy as well. To go in a win the bronze as well as watch your players win four out of six individual awards was incredible,” says Bray. One of those players was Bray's own son Scott, who left Levis, Quebec as the tournament's top goaltender.
It's called playing it safe when one tones down a team's exhibition performance, but if the Privateers can match the ruthless magic they demonstrated during the pre-season, then Bray and his team of players will be hosting some very happy fans who will be hoping, praying and cheering for the gold come next April.
