Cochrane’s hockey community has been shaken to the core with the loss of one of its leaders. The April 21 passing of Mike Bigland, head coach of the Bow Valley Timberwolves midget AA hockey team, has sent ripples across Cochrane Minor Hockey’s pond.
“I think the lessons he taught the boys goes beyond hockey,” said Kris Keller, a former Cochrane General who, along with Kashtin Gordon, took over for Bigland on the Timberwolves’ bench this season when the coach couldn’t continue due to his battle with cancer. Keller and Gordon were also on hand to accept Bigland’s Sport 4 Life coaching award April 11 at Cochrane RancheHouse, with Keller delivering a heartfelt, memorable speech about the respected coach.
“One of the greatest people I’ve ever met. He’s been a role model for me, Kashtin and all those boys. It shows you that in life, whatever your circumstances are, not to feel sorry for yourself. He felt that he owed it to the people around him to have an upbeat attitude and just give back.”
Bigland has been a fixture in Cochrane Minor Hockey for years. He stepped into the role as midget Timberwolves head coach at the beginning of the season after Evan McFeeters departed to coach the Heritage Junior Hockey League’s Cochrane Generals. When Bigland could no longer continue behind the bench, the team created its “Coach Mike, No One Fights Alone!” campaign. Players had stickers on their helmets and a banner in the dressing room as a constant reminder of, and tribute to, Bigland.
“Mike was probably the most selfless guy I know,” midget Timberwolves general manager Ron Ternes related. “He was coaching and doing practices and stuff when he was sick. With everything he’s committed to the young men in Cochrane, and was planning on continuing coaching, how do you replace a guy like that? He’s irreplaceable.”
But he’s left an indelible mark on Cochrane’s hockey landscape. His ethos, and his commitment to the game and the people who play and coach hockey here, will live on in those fortunate enough to have known him. Whether at the rink, or engaging patrons at his A&W Restaurant in town, hockey was the talk. And Bigland walked the walk.
“The players will carry it for the rest of their lives. As will the young coaches,” said Ternes. “The foundation he laid for them, they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives. That’ll have a spinoff on their kids and the kids they’re involved with in the future.”
With young players, and coaches like Keller and Gordon following in his footsteps, Bigland’s legacy is assured.
“I think people should just know he’s the type of guy . . . he didn’t have to do any of the stuff he did,” Keller surmised. “He found it in himself and he decided that it was more important to put himself out there – that those kids deserved to have a coach and a role model.”
