ArgusLeader.com:
"Assistant feels he made the right decision
MATT ZIMMER
[email protected]
Article Published: 02/7/06, 2:55 am
Last year, Doug Schueller found himself in the most difficult position a minor league athlete can experience: Wrestling with the decision to keep pursuing his dream or start ing a new phase in his life.
In leading the Coventry Blaze of the Elite Hockey League in England to a championship, he decided he was finally ready to take the next step and move into coaching and give up his dreams of playing in the NHL.
It looks like the Stampede assistant made a good decision.
Tonight, Schueller will be behind the bench for the West Division All-Stars in the USHL All-Star game, after being selected in recognition of helping to lead the Stampede to a league-best 34-6-2 start.
While the decision to give up playing was tough for the 28-year old Bowling Green grad, his rookie season as a coach has been a dream come true.
"This has been a great year," Schueller said at a Stampede practice last week. "We have a great record, I'm learning a lot, and I'm having a lot of fun."
Schueller's playing days took him all over the world,and helped shape him into the coach he is today.
Drafted by the NHL's Florida Panthers, Schueller spent two years in their farm system, before embarking on a nomadic minor league career that sent him through Kentucky, Utah, Virginia, Florida and, says Schueller, "a bunch of other places I don't have time to list."
But now he's focused on coaching, and Sioux Falls head coach Kevin Hartzell is thrilled to have him.
"I'm really excited for his future," Hartzell said. "He's been a captain all throughout his playing career, and that says a lot about his character. He's a winner and a leader and he's learning the trade every day. I really can't say enough about him."
As a player, Schueller was a notorious tough guy, and he's brought that same mentality to the bench. Hartzell brought the Stampede offense to life by stressing skill and creativity; Schueller has molded the defense and given the team its mean streak.
"I bring many years of defensive experience," Schueller said. "I believe I know a lot about how to play defense and I like to think I can help our defensemen become better."
His reputation as a player was excellent - he still gets calls from clubs wondering if he wants to play. Even with his new job going well, saying no isn't always easy.
"It's tough to say no because (playing) is a good lifestyle," he said. "It's easy living - you get paid pretty well. But I was ready to get out of it and be a coach. I certainly haven't had any second thoughts."
Being just one year removed from his own playing career, Schueller is still pretty tuned in to the day-to-day struggles of the players. Perhaps for that reason, they've responded to him as a teacher.
"He really understands where we're coming from," said defenseman Chris Berenguer, one of seven Stampede players named to the All-Star team. "He knows what it's like being in the trenches, taking a few whacks and wanting to get back at 'em."
Schueller hopes to eventually become a collegiate head coach. He earned his masters degree while in England, and got a taste of being in charge when Hartzell missed a week with broken ribs.
"That opened his eyes to some things," Hartzell said. "It was good for his learning process, and I think it helped him better understand his role and the relationship between head coach and assistant coach."
With so much going on through the first half of Schueller's rookie season, today's All-Star game will actually be a nice respite.
"There's not a lot of coaching going on - I'm just the guy on the bench," Schueller said. "But it should be fun and I think it'll be an intense game of hockey.""
Looks like he's doing well for himself
