We sat down with our U18 "A" Head Coach, Mason Cromwell, to discuss what he's most looking forward to about next year.
- Can you tell us about your background in hockey, both as a player and a coach?
Raised in Brantford, Ontario I played my minor hockey split between BCHL and the Brantford Bandits AAA system. I have been involved in the sport as a player and coach at various Jr’A’, Sr’A’, and Semi Pro levels for over 30 years. Although winning various personal accolades as All-Star, MVP, Leading scorer, Rookie of the year the highlight that stands out for me from my career as a player was playing against the U21 Red Army as a member of the Jr’A’ Collingwood Blues where I had the opportunity to play a shutdown role against Sergie Samsonov who was an 8h overall NHL draft pick. As a coach the greatest accomplishments are the development of my players both on and off the ice as they transition into life after hockey and Jr hockey careers. There have been many coaches that have had a positive impact on how I played the game, and ultimately now how I coach the electrifying sport we call hockey. I have always had an affinity for seeing the game in a different way, breaking it down into the micro responsibilities that we have within every area of the game. This was something that my father the late Darcy Cromwell valued and taught me at a young age as my U13 coach. He showed each of the players their value with the positive impacts they had within the game when they executed on what their responsibility was with and without the puck. This created a positive relationship that each player had with the game, the team, and him as a coach. This sport is all about developing positive relationships both on and off the ice to engage, mobilize, and evolve players, teams/organizations towards sustainable success. My father passed away in 2001 with an acute form of leukemia but the positive impact he has had on players is part of his legacy that lives on with a coach of the year award with the BCHL.
- What is your overall coaching philosophy, and what values are most important to you as a coach?
With my personal, professional life experiences, and my hands on Hockey experience I have developed a Team Coaching Philosophy that you need to start with creating a culture that supports personal player development, team development, and organizational progress. The most important core value of my TCP is communication. You need to truly appreciate the importance of being able to communicate effectively with the use of different leadership communication styles. You must be mindful enough to recognize when you need to adjust your style or your approach to evolve with the needs of the person, the player, the staff, and the team. Situational leadership will give you the foundation for a culture that will make both incremental and major steps towards the common vision. The first step in my TCP of creating this culture is clear communication of the core values of the culture that we will be creating together. These core values are trust, communication, honesty, integrity, accountability, leadership, teamwork, empowerment, creativity, personal growth mindset, and humility. The second step is the clear communication of the expectations that will provide the framework for how the players, and staff conduct themselves on and off the ice.
- What style of hockey do you coach, and what can players expect in terms of systems and game strategy?
My Hockey Coaching Philosophy that puck possession is paradigm. This means that every player must learn to play the game with and without the puck. This is an ever-changing expectation on players from game to game, shift to shift and even team to team as coaching strategies are and will be continuously changing within the 200ft game. My philosophy is that it’s more important what you do without the puck than what you do with the puck because in fact even the elite players only have possession of the puck for 45 seconds in an entire game. This philosophy develops a players overall Hockey IQ which in turn has a profound impact on what they do with the puck. This does not downplay the importance of making effective and responsible plays with the puck, it only identifies the gap between mediocrity and consistently high performing teams. In the process players build confidence, teams build confidence, and the progress becomes a sustainable set of positive results that is carried year over year.
- What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming season?
I am looking forward to being a part of the inaugural season of the Georgian Bay Islanders. There has been a lot of work behind the scenes to create a culture that will achieve positive Player, Goalie, Trainer, and Coach development across all ages.
There are no silos, only one shared vision, and mission with Overall Player Development at the forefront and the opportunity to be a part of something special.
In addition, the new jerseys, shells, player selected numbers, and Name Bars are going to look amazing! If there is one thing that I have learned at this age is that it’s all about the Swag!
- Why should players want to be part of the Islanders next season? What makes this team and program special?
What makes this team special is that it will be defined by a culture that provides a positive experience for each of the players. The players will learn the importance of having a growth mindset on and off the ice. Understanding how mental performance, physical performance, and emotional awareness all play an important role not only in the sport of hockey, but in life after hockey.
The opportunity for Player Development on the ice, and off the ice are endless and will be second to none.
The opportunity for Goalie Development on the ice, and off the ice are endless and will be second to none.
- Is there anything else you’d like players and families to know about you or the upcoming season?
The team and players are going to be exposed to a tournament in the US throughout the season as an opportunity to have an International Hockey experience that will add to their minor hockey experience.
There is an opportunity for players that are selected to AP to the local competing Jr ‘C’ Hockey Clubs, The Midland Flyers, and the Penetang Kings.