I wrote the following Letter to the Editor over two weeks ago, but the News Miner has refused to publish it because I'm from Anchorage. They told me they only publish letters from those that live in Fairbanks or the surrounding area.
For what it's worth here are my thoughts from my perspective.
Also it appears that either of the two finalists for the coaching position would be the right choice.
Sincerely, Cliff Hyatt Anchorage
April 22, 2007
Letter to the Editor,
I would like to take this opportunity and applaud the decision of the Athletic Department to quickly tender the resignation of the hockey coach. It took a lot of courage to do so, but it was by far the best move for Nanook Hockey. It takes honesty and a true caring for the greater good of the University, the players, and the community to recognize that this was not the person they thought they were hiring and to cut their losses.
The players are Student Athletes as well as adults. They are given a lot as student athletes but they also give up a lot to be student athletes. They deserve to be treated by their coach with some degree of respect and dignity. Respect begets respect.
I was listening to an interview with Chris Chelios, last month. He commented that he was still having fun playing and as long as he was he would continue to play. I reflected on one of the first lessons taught to beginning mite hockey coaches, “Make sure the kids are having fun!” Playing hockey at the college and pro levels is a lot of work, but the bottom line is that it has to be fun too, or it simply isn’t worth it. We lost some players and would’ve lost many more simply because it wasn’t fun anymore.
We know the coach really isn’t gone because of this, but whatever the reason it is best for Nanook Hockey. Hopefully we’ll find someone who makes hockey fun again, respects the players, staff, and doesn’t publicly disparage the team and their talent.
I imagine the Athletic Departments hands are tied as to what they can reveal about the transgressions that led to the resignation. For better or worse this is probably to protect the individuals involved. We can only assume the reasons precipitating the resignation were justified, or else he wouldn’t have resigned.
For all the reasons above I commend the Athletic Department and support their quest to find the right head coach.
Posted on May 9 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wrote the following Letter to the Editor over two weeks ago, but the News Miner has refused to publish it because I'm from Anchorage. They told me they only publish letters from those that live in Fairbanks or the surrounding area.
For what it's worth here are my thoughts from my perspective.
Also it appears that either of the two finalists for the coaching position would be the right choice.
Sincerely,
Cliff Hyatt
Anchorage
April 22, 2007
Letter to the Editor,
I would like to take this opportunity and applaud the decision of the Athletic Department to quickly tender the resignation of the hockey coach. It took a lot of courage to do so, but it was by far the best move for Nanook Hockey. It takes honesty and a true caring for the greater good of the University, the players, and the community to recognize that this was not the person they thought they were hiring and to cut their losses.
The players are Student Athletes as well as adults. They are given a lot as student athletes but they also give up a lot to be student athletes. They deserve to be treated by their coach with some degree of respect and dignity. Respect begets respect.
I was listening to an interview with Chris Chelios, last month. He commented that he was still having fun playing and as long as he was he would continue to play. I reflected on one of the first lessons taught to beginning mite hockey coaches, “Make sure the kids are having fun!” Playing hockey at the college and pro levels is a lot of work, but the bottom line is that it has to be fun too, or it simply isn’t worth it. We lost some players and would’ve lost many more simply because it wasn’t fun anymore.
We know the coach really isn’t gone because of this, but whatever the reason it is best for Nanook Hockey. Hopefully we’ll find someone who makes hockey fun again, respects the players, staff, and doesn’t publicly disparage the team and their talent.
I imagine the Athletic Departments hands are tied as to what they can reveal about the transgressions that led to the resignation. For better or worse this is probably to protect the individuals involved. We can only assume the reasons precipitating the resignation were justified, or else he wouldn’t have resigned.
For all the reasons above I commend the Athletic Department and support their quest to find the right head coach.
On Patrick states his case for Nanooks’ hockey job