G’day, mate! Different worlds collide to Blue Jackets’ delight in Nationwide Arena
COLUMBUS, Ohio — One sport is played on a rectangular surface covered by ice, the other on an oval field of grass. One involves kicking an oblong ball for points, the other requires sticks to steer and shoot vulcanized rubber. Australian rules football couldn’t be more different from hockey, but the AFL and NHL came together Wednesday in Nationwide Arena.
Ron Watt extended his right hand and a hearty “G’day, mate!” as Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella approached in the hallway outside the Blue Jackets’ dressing room. What followed was a near-20 minute exchange of ideas and philosophies and a promise to meet Thursday after the Blue Jackets host the Philadelphia Flyers.
“This is my fifth or sixth year bringing coaches to the United States,” said Watt, an executive with the Australian Football League coaches association. “Any time you travel, you gain wisdom. And any time you talk with a coach — it doesn’t really matter if the sports are the same or even similar — you’re gaining knowledge, just based on mental approach and philosophies, things like that.
“We were here a few years ago, and had about an hour and a half talk with (former Blue Jackets coach) Todd Richards after practice. It was wonderful, and today was wonderful.”
Watt acknowledged some reluctance with meeting Tortorella among himself and four coaches who made the trip. (Yes, he’s seen the YouTube clips.)
And Tortorella, his club coming off an 8-2 loss last Saturday, said he initially wasn’t excited about a post-practice meeting with anybody, but he agreed to give them a few minutes.
The men stood in a circle and chatted for 20-plus minutes in the hallway, then drifted back toward the dressing room, stopping every 10 feet or so to chat some more. They then disappeared in a back room to speak with Blue Jackets high performance coach Nelson Ayotte.
Senior coach Matthew Lokan and midfield development coach Scott Thompson of the Port Adelaide Power, development coach Mitch Hahn of the Brisbane Lions and Ryan Ferguson of the Richmond Tigers all had questions for Tortorella, Ayotte and others.
“They have an open mind when they’re talking to the other coaches, and if something clicks, well, it might work for their game, too,” Tortorella said “They’re trying to get an edge. Trying to be better coaches. If they’re better coaches with better techniques, they’re going to be a better team. This is what we do (as coaches).”
While allowing for “pub time” each night, Watt said the coaches are keeping a busy schedule, and they’ve learned to be flexible. A few years ago, a visit with former Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini went so well that Mangini invited the coaches back to his house for more conversation and drinks.
The coaches arrived in Racine, Wisconsin, on Friday for last weekend’s United States Australian Rules Football championships, with teams from 50 U.S. cities competing.
Then it was off to Milwaukee on Monday, spending time with the NBA’s Bucks. On Tuesday, they visited the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and spent time with the men’s and women’s hockey, football and wrestling programs.
Early Wednesday, the coaches visited Ohio State lacrosse, then headed over to Nationwide to watch an NHL practice. They were planning Wednesday night to visit with the Ohio State men’s basketball staff after a practice.
On Thursday morning they’ve sealed off a two- or three-hour window with Columbus Crew SC coach Gregg Berhalter, and they’re hoping to visit with the Ohio State football coaching staff Thursday, but that wasn’t settled as of Wednesday. (C’mon, Urban.)
On Saturday, they’re visiting Michigan State football. Sunday is the Cleveland Cavaliers. Monday is the Cleveland Indians, where vice president of learning development Jay Hennessy has agreed to give them three or four hours.
Later this year, Watt is bringing a different group of coaches for a similar tour of teams on the West Coast.
Ferguson seemed to ask the questions that got Tortorella revved up the most. How do you prepare players without overburdening them? What is more valued in hockey, skill or decision-making? What’s the biggest challenge for players at the NHL level, is it mental or X’s and O’s?
Tortorella started by saying, “We just kind of wing it, actually! Throw it up against the wall and see what sticks!”
The coaches laughed, then they got down to business — the type of issues that coaches can spend hours discussing, the type that transcend sports.
Like most in the U.S., Tortorella’s initial exposure to Aussie football was through ESPN, which used to air the games regularly in the 1980s.
“I loved watching it,” he said. “That’s a man’s game. I don’t know the rules. I just like watching men be men. It’s a great sport for that.
“I don’t really know a whole hell of a lot about it. But you talk about mindset … being tough, that mental mindset … let’s just say there’s not much equipment going on there.”
This article was originally published by Aaron Portzline here... https://theathletic.com/596955...
