Grand Rapids tries to oust LaRoque as head coach

[EHSHack]

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/ ... id/177861/

[O CANADA!]

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/ ... id/177861/

My advice is to journal everything that has happened and based on what you are saying, will more than likely happen in the future and present that to your AD. When the AD fails to respond by keeping his head in the sand, contact a lawyer and and take legal action against the school district. We did this with our coach and the school fired him for doing the same exact things you describe.

Coaches like these are bad for the sport. None of the kids want to come to practice. None of the kids care even if they win. Most kids are just counting the days until the season ends and are often thinking about the Spring sports such as baseball and lacrosse.

That's really disappointing to hear that about the coach. I would suggest playing Junior Gold A especially for those kids who are now fearing the worse. You need to ask yourself this: do I want to have fun playing this season or do I want to have another year of hell with this guy. You guys are strong enough to have 3-4 Jr Gold teams. Maybe the district will see the bright light when nobody signs up to play high school hockey.

Shame on you coach!

[wingmaster]

sounds like a disgruntled family to me. A coach cannot be responsible for everyones happiness.

[northwoods oldtimer]

[fromdanorth]

My kid was yelled at and didn't get any playing time come on parents this is Minnesota high school hockey, not mites....... this has been going on and on for many years
Coaching is a thankless job

[supertacks]

My kid was yelled at and didn't get any playing time come on parents this is Minnesota high school hockey, not mites....... this has been going on and on for many years
Coaching is a thankless job

I couldn't agree more... I think REM sang it best, "It's the end of the world as we know it", when parents and players from Grand Rapids start whining that they don't want to play because they are getting "yelled" at. Herbie is spinning in his grave!

[TheHockeyDJ]

My thoughts exactly. Comments in that article are a load of crap. Bruce is a great guy, great coach, and a great teacher. HS hockey isn't about giving every little johnny equal playing time. If you want equal playing time go flood a rink in your back yard.

[scoreboard33]

Not to validate the article and argument, but Kleinendorst has been one of Grand Rapids best players the last few years and Scott Kleinendorst played in the NHL, so I don't think their complaints are just about getting yelled at or at all about playing time. Scott's brother Kurt is currently an AHL coach and was previously the U-18 NTDP coach. It seems like with these people behind this that there may be something going on that we don't know.

[Danielle]

There were SEVERAL parents and student athletes that would have spoken at the board meeting if time had allowed. Not just a few. This coach didn't just yell at these players. There are good coaches who actually yell at their players and it's not all bad! This coach didn't communicate any expectations, belittled the boys when they didn't do something right even though they had NO idea what he wanted. He'd tell them that he was going to do something and then not do it and they were intimidated by him and were afraid to ask any questions whatsoever. And he really did nothing to pull a team together. He did a better job of causing dissension among his players and their parents.
He'd stand at the front of the room at the beginning of the year and tell parents basically "don't come to me with problems, complaints or suggestions because I'll do the opposite". He'd walk around the arena with his nose up in the air and avoid any contact with any parents and he rarely smiled. If coaching is so intense that you no longer enjoy the game, the players or the parent contact, then do the right thing and STEP DOWN!!! Let someone who is dedicated to helping young men become strong, positive and happy individuals take over!!! Those of you who read an article and form an opinion regarding the parents complaints should really step back and get all of the information first!

[hockeyday]

All I can say is Mr. Laroque coached my 13 year old for approximately 20 AAA games this summer and he was a pleasure throughout. I was shocked to see the article. We are Canadian and played alot of US AAA hockey this year in Minnesota. As I do every year, I pull my son aside and ask his honest opinion of all of his coaches as no one knows what happens on the bench as well as the players. His opinion of Mr. Laroque was he was fair, friendly and offered lots of positive feedback. I obviously expect that all coaches are a little bit more aggressive and competitive at the high school level as I know most expect, but as far as I have witnessed he is definately one of the better more qualified coaches I have seen. My son picked up 2 gold, a silver and bronze along the way so I can also vouch that he also knows how to win.