Thursday, June 2, 2011
Behind the Bench: Seth Appert
In Behind the Bench, College Hockey, Inc. will introduce college hockey head coaches from around the country and provide some insight into their approach, their program and their background, in their own words.
Our first subject is Rensselaer’s Seth Appert, who will enter his sixth season with the Engineers in 2011-12.
WHAT IS?
The best way to describe your coaching style?
We play an aggressive, attacking up-tempo style of hockey. We develop relationships with our players to learn how to best motivate them while holding them to very high standards in how they practice, play and represent our hockey program and university.
Your favorite part of coaching?
Helping in the development of a young man’s life and watching them grow as hockey players and people throughout their four years and after they graduate.
The most important thing your assistant coaches do for you?
The most important thing our assistants do is recruit high quality student-athletes and help individual development of players.
Your favorite thing about college hockey?
The passion that is involved with college hockey at all programs. The passion the fans and alumni have for their team, the passion that you see each player and team exhibit on Friday and Saturday nights competing against their rivals while they represent their school and the passion that players have for their alma mater for the rest of their life.
Your favorite place on campus outside the rink?
The Student Union – it is energizing to be on campus and see so many different students interacting while having lunch, studying or just socializing.
The best advice you could give a young player hoping to make Division I?
Work extremely hard on and off the ice and in the classroom to earn your opportunity. The better you are in all areas the more doors you will open for yourself.
The best advice you would give parents of a young hockey player?
Be patient. The great thing about college hockey is that you are allowed extra years of development if necessary. More often than not the players who have taken a year or two off of school do better academically in their freshman year.
The best advice you ever got?
“I don’t care what you decide to do, but whatever it is you are going to try to be great at it. Don’t accept mediocrity.”
The most important trait you look for in a player?
Talent is necessary to become a Division I player but past that competitiveness and character are the biggest reason some become great and others don?t.
The biggest win of your career?
As a Head Coach it would have to be beating Yale when they were #1 in the nation in front of a sold-out Houston Field House crowd (4,870 attendance). As an assistant coach I was fortunate enough to be part of two national championship teams at Denver.
A game you look forward to each year?
Union games (they are a huge rival less than 20 miles away) and the Big Red Freakout, where crowds of well past capacity cram the Houston Field House every year for one of the great traditions of college hockey.
WHO IS?
Your biggest coaching influence?
George Gwozdecky, who I worked for at Denver, Bob Daniels, who I played for at Ferris State, and my parents.
An NHL coach you admire?
Dan Bylsma
A coach you admire outside of hockey?
Mike Krzyzewski – Duke Basketball
A former player you’re particularly proud of?
Kirk MacDonald – He was our captain at RPI and he overcame a tough battle with cancer during his time at RPI to be a great leader and role model for everyone at RPI. He has since gone on to play NHL exhibition games and serves as a captain for the Providence Bruins of the AHL. We all look forward to watching him play his first NHL game.
An unsung hero in your program?
Justin Smith. Justin has been in and out of the lineup for three years but will serve as an alternate captain next year as a senior. He comes to the rink with an amazing work ethic, attitude and energy about him. He is everything you want your program to represent both on and off the ice.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE?
Book
Two books: Team of Rivals, which is about Abraham Lincoln and his presidential cabinet, and The Carolina Way, which is about how legendary basketball coach Dean Smith ran his program at North Carolina.
TV show
Modern Family
Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Web site
Pro team
Minnesota Twins
Sport besides hockey
Baseball
Time of year
Fall – the energy and excitement on a college campus combined with the start of hockey season