Team bonding can be achieved through a lot of different ways.
For the Cochrane Generals, getting off to the right start of what has turned out to be the best regular-season in franchise history (29-5-0, 62 points, 1st overall in the HJHL) meant rebuilding their dressing room.
“Most organizations in the Heritage League have their over designated dressing room,” said Gens head coach Evan McFeeters. “We wanted to give our players something they felt could be their home base. As a staff, we came up with the idea. We felt if we could get the supplies, why not take a shot to see what we could come up with?”
The club had been contemplating the idea of a renovated dressing room for some time, but lack of time and means had always been factors preventing Gens from taking the next step.
This season, players got together with staff, and took time over a weekend before training camp started to create something that not only the present roster could be proud of, but that future players could be as well.
“From a recruiting standpoint, one of the questions players always ask is, ‘what does the dressing room look like?’” McFeeters said.
“To be honest, we had a run-of-the-mill room like any other team. We wanted to get up with the times, and give our players their own room with their names on the stalls.”
Getting approval for the project was smooth-sailing for the club, as they agreed to a deal with Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre to green-light construction, as long as the room could still be accessible to the Cochrane Minor Hockey Association.
“The minor hockey players love the room,” McFeeters said.
“They love to hang out in the stalls with their favourite players, so it’s been a win-win.”
The materials necessary for the project were provided by DE Lumber (thanks to club president Ken Soloski), and Displayco, owned by captain Craig Packard’s family, free of charge.
“It was really funny,” said Gens general manager Jacqueline Hurlbert.
“We went around Cochrane, and it was going to be really expensive to get graphics for the walls. Craig came forward. We didn’t know his family owned a graphics company. They offered sponsorship and advertising in exchange for helping us. With the lumber, Ken came forward and said if we were looking, he’d supply it.
“We were able to build a nice dressing room for zero cost other than the labour of our players.”
How did the players feel about the project?
“They were excited,” McFeeters said. “They talk to players from other teams, and they all have their own dressing room, so our guys were glad to finally have one of their own. At the start, it was just going to be the staff building it, so when I asked the players they jumped on board. They did all the heavy lifting.
“We told them they could do whatever they wanted, and we’d support them. They came up with the idea and concept themselves, and it took around 16 hours of building. Afterwards, we had a big party to celebrate the accomplishment.”
How much does McFeeters think the experience did to help his team bond for the then-upcoming season and the success they have subsequently had?
“I think it did a lot,” he said.
“We had 25-26 guys on our roster at that point, and even the guys who are no longer with us gave a helping hand. When you have a big task like that, it forces guys to get together and communicate.
“On the coaching side I got to see who works well with whom, and what kind of attitudes were around. It was the best team-building experience we could have asked for.”
Does the club have any plans to add on to the room, or is it the finished article?
“We would like to continue adding as much as possible,” McFeeters said.
“If people continue to donate things like paint and hooks, we’ll continue to make our dressing room better.
“As the years go by, we need to continue to update.”
