Guiding the Okotoks Oilers to best in the South has its rewards.
For the second time in four seasons Okotoks Oilers bench boss Tyler Deis was named the AJHL Coach of the Year for 2019-20 — a recognition he’s quick to share with those around him.
“That’s definitely a team award with all of the guys I’ve surrounded myself with and helping make me look good,” Deis said. “And with the kids just being focused and accountable. Basically it’s those guys making me look good.
“It’s a focused group and they have goals and they’re professional about it. It’s not a country club, they have things they want to attain from here and this being a stepping-stone and it’s just doing everything to make sure they’re better on the ice and better off the ice.
“And that’s the kind of culture you want.”
The 2019-20 season saw Okotoks finish with its second South Division regular season title in the past three years. Its 47 wins, 256 goals for and 141 goals against also rank second in franchise history, behind only the 52-win campaign in 2017-18.
Okotoks had to navigate the departure of six of its top seven scorers from one season ago and stud netminder Ashton Abel moving up to Boston University half way through this season.
And all they’ve done, in spite of those hurdles, is be remarkably consistent all season.
“I just like how guys stepped up,” Deis said. “A lot of those big players left and it was opportunity for other kids to step into those roles and they took it. That’s the coolest thing, they got the opportunity and they actually took the opportunity and ran with it.”
Deis previously claimed the Coach of the Year Award in the 2017-18 season when he was ultimately named CJHL Coach of the Year.
In four seasons as head coach, Deis has guided the Oilers to a 174-50-14 record, good for a win percentage of. 836.
Through three playoff campaigns with Deis behind the bench, the Oilers have made it to or gone beyond the third round, highlighted by the club’s first league finals appearance in 2018.
“Last year I knew him a bit before I came and played here and I’ve always loved his coaching style,” said Oilers second-year blueliner Eric Parker. “He’s the type of coach I like, he loves to motivate, he knows how to push you to be better. At the same time, he’s always there as a supportive guy.
“He always knows when to be a bit of a hard ass and when to support guys. He’s sort of the perfect fit and he picks the guys that want to be coached by him and he’s a huge piece to our success.”
For Deis, relationship building is crucial to getting the most out of young athletes.
“I don’t think I’m an easy coach,” he said. “I try and create relationships with each kid and once you do that, you can push them a little more without it being so personal. Once the athlete or the individual takes it personal is when it gets hard.
“It’s just knowing the kids.”
Deis, a former collegiate player with a bachelor of science and bachelor of education from Minnesota State University, listed former Bow Mark Oilers bench boss and long-time junior coach Kevin Willison as one of his coaching mentors.
“He helped me with what it takes to be a coach,” Deis said. “And just having that understanding and having that patience.”
Dedicated effort
For the second straight year the Okotoks Oilers are home to the AJHL’s Most Dedicated Player.
Third-year forward Marc Pasemko earned the award, following in the footsteps of former teammate an 2019 captain Kyle Gordon.
“There’s obviously lots of guys across the league and you think everyone is committed and dedicated and does all the extra things,” Pasemko said. “I’ve prided myself on doing that all three years and it means a lot to finally be recognized for it.
“I think it’s just all the extra time I put in away from the ice. I go to the gym a lot, I’m on the ice doing extra skills work before practice starts, I’m in my garage every day stick-handling, I think it’s all those little things.”
The 20-year-old said he was fortunate to learn from his older brother Michael about what and what not to do.
“He played hockey growing up and he didn’t start early enough doing the (extra) stuff,” Pasemko said. “He’s always preached to me to just do as much as possible and start at an early age.”
The Colorado College Tigers commit finished the 2019-20 season with a career high 25 goals, 46 assists and 71 points.
Pasemko’s 153 points over three seasons ranks him tied for third in franchise scoring with Jon Turk while his 105 assists is second only to former teammate Carson Beers’ 125 helpers. The speedy winger is sixth on the Oilers career games played list at 167.
Though he’s missed little action over three seasons, it’s often been a matter of playing through injury.
“It’s been a grind some days with injuries,” he said. “But it’s just battling through.
“Most of this year I’ve played at about 80 per cent, just with how I sacrifice my body, blocking shots, it adds up.
“It hurts for warm-up, but once you get that adrenaline through you don’t really feel it.”
The other AJHL 2019-20 winners are as follows:
MVP: Arjun Atwal — Sherwood Park Crusaders, Top Goaltender: Carter Gylander — Sherwood Park Crusaders, Outstanding Defenceman: Michael Benning — Sherwood Park Crusaders, Rookie of the Year: Brayden Krieger — Brooks Bandits.
Playoff Picture
The post-season is underway in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the opening round best-of-seven series getting underway Feb. 29 to March 1.
In the South, the Okotoks Oilers and Brooks Bandits have byes through the first-round with the other four playoff qualifiers battling it out as the Drumheller Dragons take on the Olds Grizzlys with the other series featuring the Camrose Kodiaks and Canmore Eagles.
In the North, the top-team in the AJHL Sherwood Park Crusaders have the lone bye with three opening round matchups pitting Spruce Grove and Grande Prairie, Whitecourt and Fort McMurray as well as Bonnyville versus Drayton Valley.
The second round of the playoffs is expected to get underway on the March 13-14 weekend.
For more information go to ajhl.ca
