EVERETT — Mitch Love saw opportunity rather than disappointment as he pressed “send” on the text message to Hockey Canada scout Ryan Jankowski.
The Everett Silvertips assistant coach had initially been rejected after applying for one of nine coaching spots among Canada’s three squads scheduled to compete in the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. However, several coaches who had been selected had since been hired as head coaches for major junior teams and had to drop out.
Love was willing to do anything, and a week later Jankowski called him back.
“(He said), ‘Hey Lover, you’re in,’” the 31-year-old former Everett captain recalled. “I kind of back-doored my way into the whole thing, but in hindsight I’m glad I did because I was able to enjoy that experience and win a gold medal.”
That gold medal, earned during the tournament that ran Oct. 30-Nov. 7 in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, British Columbia, was the culmination of months of preparation. Love began his work as a guest coach at the Team Canada training camp in July and was added to Team White’s coaching staff shortly thereafter.
“The first thing that comes to your mind being a Canadian boy is the honor, the privilege of working with Team Canada,” Love said. “That was pretty exciting for myself and my family. I was never good enough as a hockey player to ever be part of their program and then obviously to be in the profession I’m in, that’s also a very high honor. It’s something I’ll cherish and never forget.”
Portland head coach Jamie Kompon was originally tabbed to be the head coach, but had to back out.
Kompon was replaced by former Vancouver Canuck player and current player development consultant Scott Walker, who joined Love and Gilles Bouchard of the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda on the staff.
Love was put in charge of the defense — the same capacity he holds with the Silvertips — as well as the penalty-killing unit. The biggest challenge, he said, was having to do most of the strategizing via conference call from July until the team assembled in late October for training camp.
“I had to get to know the kids within a week before the tournament, so I had to touch base with them,” Love said. “I was consumed with that, and also obviously with (the Silvertips) franchise and this program too, so it was a little stressful.”
The team struggled in round-robin play. Canada White finished third in its four-team group with a 1-2 record, including a 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic.
That seemed to galvanize Canada White as the team swept through the medal round by topping Finland 4-2, Sweden 2-1 and Russia 6-2 for the first gold medal won by a Canadian team since Team Ontario in 2011 — back when Canada sent five teams instead of three.
“I think our guys at that moment got a little bit of a wake-up call going into the medal round,” Love said. “We had to come back in all three of those games to win the tournament. As we got going and as we got into the medal round and saw our success, I think we all started to believe we had a chance to win it.”
Throughout the experience Love watched Silvertips games online when he could, and checked in with Everett head coach Kevin Constantine and fellow assistant Brennan Sonne as often as possible. Since returning he’s been honored at several rinks for the gold medal, including Xfinity Arena and various away venues.
While it might be difficult to top winning a gold medal in his first foray into coaching with Hockey Canada, Love is going to try.
He plans to apply again next year for the 2016 staff.
For all the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse
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