An exhaustive search yielded the top candidate right under the nose of the Okotoks Oilers.
Tyler Deis was introduced as the fourth head coach in the history of the Okotoks Oilers on Monday after two seasons heading up the team’s Hockey Development program.
"I think one of the biggest reasons the decision was made is because I've worked with a lot of the players on the Oilers with the development program," Deis said. "I think it will make for an easier transition. They know what I'm all about and the intangible aspects I bring out when they come and work with me.
"That relationship with the existing players is already there."
Following the resignation of former bench boss James Poole in April, the Oilers received 66 applications for the post and narrowed it down to a shortlist of six finalists in what was an extensive pursuit to fill the vacancy.
"We wanted to have it done right away just for the players, for the community," said Oilers president Brad Robson. "It's important for the hockey club that everyone knows the direction we're going this year, next year and the year after. We have to get better and it starts this year."
The combination of familiarity, continuity and a well versed background in hockey and education made Deis the best candidate Robson interviewed during the process.
On top of his NCAA Division I and pro hockey credentials at Minnesota State University - Mankato and later in the East Coast Hockey League, the 41-year-old has a Master's Degree in Sports Psychology, a minor in athletic coaching and Bachelor’s of Science and Education degrees.
"I've watched him a lot this year with all the camps and at our games we sat and talked about our hockey club last year," Robson said. "With his background, he's a teacher, his communication skills as a teacher are very high. He's family oriented, he has young kids himself, and family is how he interacts with the players.
"When we had our spring camp here with all the 99s and 2000s, he knew all the families and parents."
More recently, Deis coached the prep program at the Edge School for Athletes and guided the Mountaineers to two national championships in the CSSSHL (Canadian Sport School Hockey League). He spent one season on the Oilers bench in 2013-14 as an assistant on Poole's staff prior to heading up the Oilers development program when it launched in 2014.
"We're well aware of him. He was an assistant coach here, he's here all the time," Robson said. "When he was at The Edge everything a coach has to do, he did. Budgeting, recruiting, helping the players grow, he did all the scheduling for road trips. For him to step in, it's not going to be a problem because of the experience he has."
On top of running the development program and past experience at Edge, Deis was an assistant coach on the CFR Midget AAA Bisons for the 2015-16 season.
The totality of those experiences has provided him with a pretty intimate knowledge of the top players in the province nearing the process of transitioning to the Junior level.
"Knowing how those top prospects are coming into the league, having first-hand relationships with not just the player, but the family also, that trust factor is there with the families," Deis said. "I've created a lot of relationships here through our development program and various things we offer for the community and in surrounding areas."
While maintaining an up-tempo speed game on the ice, discipline inside and outside of the rink in all facets of life will be a major point of emphasis for the head honcho.
"Not just with penalties, but disciplined within the systems that we play, the tactical aspects that we play," Deis said. "They're still amateur athletes here, but we want to instil that professionalism into them where they're accountable for what they’re doing. It's their nutrition, development on the ice, their habits, their social lives.
"This is something they chose they wanted to be in and move on in and with that you have to be accountable with what you're doing."
As a teacher, Deis has learned the crucial role of relationship development and recognition of different personality types and learning behaviours.
“It's about creating that relationship with those players and maximizing their personal excellence to achieve that outcome they want of moving onto the next level,” he said. “As team goals you want that buy in and everybody pulling the rope the same way so that you start winning championships and putting banners in the rafters.
“Once you have that end goal you’re going to have an elite program."
A major part of becoming an elite program is to increase the opportunities for the players to advance to higher echelons of hockey. Deis called the development of his athletes to the next level the number-one goal of the squad.
"We have to start building better, stronger relationships with those teams, with the NCAA or if it’s the WHL,” Deis said. "We want to make sure we’re moving them on and creating plans, not just with the players, but with the players' families in getting them to the next level."
Deis will transition into the general manager role with the team from the midway point to the end of his first season behind the bench with Robson aiding in the post during the grooming period.
Heading into his first-season as a head coach at the Junior level, Deis knows the pieces are there to ice an excellent team in the 2016-17 campaign. The Oilers have 19 players eligible to return with another year of experience under their belt.
"With the coaching staff from previous years it’s a strong team here," Deis said. "There is a lot we still have to do, but it should be exciting where the Okotoks Oilers are going.
"We want to improve every year and with that improvement we want to start putting banners in the rafters and start moving these kids onto the next level."
Season Ticket Blitz
The Okotoks Oilers are calling on hockey fans in the community to Pack the Rink this season with a brand new pricing for season ticket packages. Until July 1, season tickets are being sold for $199 for adults.
Elsewhere, the Oilers are hosting a fundraising dinner on June 23 with guest speaker Clint Malarchuk. The former NHL goaltender will be sharing his inspirational battle with mental health.
For more information go to okotoksoilers.ca
