Living in Pensacola, Fla. after spending many winters in North Battleford has been a big change for Kevin Hasselberg.
However, you won鈥檛 hear the former Battlefords North Stars head coach and general manager bragging about it.
鈥淢y wife and my two kids are stuck up there in the cold with everyone else, so that really puts everything in perspective,鈥� Hasselberg said. 鈥淭hey are actually coming down here for a couple of weeks, so I鈥檒l have everything I need during the holidays.鈥�
After five seasons with the North Stars, Hasselberg has entered the world of professional hockey this year as he鈥檚 the head coach for the 麻豆传媒AVern Professional Hockey League鈥檚 Pensacola Ice Flyers.
鈥淭he work load that you have in junior is multiplied even more at this level,鈥� Hasselberg said.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e wearing a lot more has and there鈥檚 much more responsibility, especially when it comes to things like managing a salary cap and contracts. I鈥檝e really enjoyed that challenge, though, and it鈥檚 been a very positive experience in that regard.鈥�
This year has been a transitional one for the Ice Flyers, who have three of the last four SPHL President鈥檚 Cup titles.
Following a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Cottonmouths last Friday, the Ice Flyers are currently in eighth place in the 10-team league with a 5-8-5 record.
鈥淔inding our identity has been the biggest thing during the first 18 games of the season,鈥� Hasselberg said. 鈥淥bviously, we would have liked to have a much better record at this point of the year, but I like the way our team is competing and we have the right players in the room.
鈥淭hey all want to be better pros and that will be a huge factor to our success going forward. This team has won in the past and we can lean on that success as we form the identity of this team, especially with many college players working their way into the professional ranks like we have on our roster this year.鈥�
The way that the roster is structured in the SPHL is something that鈥檚 been completely different for Hasselberg when compared to his time in Junior A.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something new on the table every week,鈥� Hasselberg said.
鈥淵ou have players getting sent down from the ECHL or being put on waivers that can help your team. It鈥檚 a lot different from being in the SJHL where you're working with players and their families starting at the age of 15 and more or less building a roster from scratch.鈥�
Although Pensacola isn鈥檛 a traditional hockey market, Hasselberg says that the Ice Flyers fan base is a very passionate one.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure people might be surprised to hear this, but the support this team gets is right up there with the top teams in pro hockey,鈥� Hasselberg said.
鈥淚 was even caught off guard when I first experienced it. There鈥檚 a strong following here for the entire league and so many of the fans are here for the entertainment value of what goes on during the whole game day, not just what happens with the battle on the ice.鈥�
Although he鈥檚 busy in his current job, Hasselberg has been keeping a close eye on the success of the North Stars so far this season.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to see how well the guys are doing,鈥� Hasselberg said. 鈥淭he group of guys there are doing exactly what I thought they would this year, and I鈥檓 really enjoying seeing how well they鈥檝e been playing.鈥�
