Mike Kelly Returns

(FREDERICTON, NB) It had been a while, but still Mike Kelly felt right at home.

The former head coach of the Varsity Reds was back on the ice at the Aitken Centre last week, working with current head coach Gardiner MacDougall and the defending University Cup champions.

“It’s nostalgic, that’s for sure,” said Kelly. “A lot of things have changed.”

Kelly said it had been five years since his last visit.

It was 2012, and UNB was hosting the University Cup. Kelly, then coaching the Saint John Sea Dogs, drove up for one night. He watched a game with some teammates from UNB’s 1984 AUAA championship team.

“It was quite a night,” he remembered. “I kind of wished I’d been able to stay for the weekend.”

Last November, after two seasons as an assistant coach, Kelly was dismissed by the NHL’s Florida Panthers when they fired head coach Gerard Gallant.

Invited back to Fredericton by MacDougall, Kelly was eager to return.

During Kelly’s visit, and with his team working through a first-round bye, MacDougall allowed Kelly to run parts of practices.

Kelly was impressed.

“It’s a really special group,” he said. “They work really, really hard. It’d be neat to watch them play.”

Kelly played five seasons for UNB, from 1981 to 1986.

He then coached the team for two seasons, leading the Varsity Reds to their first national championship, in 1998.

Tom Coolen would take over for two seasons before MacDougall’s arrival, but Kelly feels no one but Gardiner MacDougall could’ve created what exists today.

“I wouldn’t have given it much of a chance to move forward the way it did had I stayed,” said Kelly. “The way Gardiner has pushed the needle as far as the hockey camps and so on, I’m not sure I could’ve done all that. And, along the way, he’s been able to win five national championships. He’s made this a pretty special place.”

The 20^th anniversary of that 1998 national championship is just a year away. That anniversary will be recognized and celebrated when UNB hosts the 2018 Cavendish Farms University Cup.

Asked if he’ll be back, Kelly smiled and answered quickly.

“Hopefully, I’ll be working and won’t be able to come back.”

Whether he’s back or not, Kelly left a small piece of himself with the current Varsity Reds.

“He sees the game a little bit different, being with the NHL guys, so it’s cool to have that experience,” said VReds defenceman Jordan Murray.

“I just tried to take everything in. For me, the next step I want to take is turning pro, so I’m going to have to learn what he’s teaching, so working with him now is a good step in the right direction.”

 After coaching UNB to its first University Cup, Kelly went on to jobs in the Quebec Major Junior League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League, before making a jump, as an assistant, to the NHL.

He says his time with the Varsity Reds was the springboard.

“It gave me a lot of confidence, said Kelly. “The people that hired me let me do my thing and I remember asking questions of Terry Haggerty and he said ‘do what you think is right.’ What a vote of confidence. And through the efforts of the players, everything they did with winning, it really boosts your confidence, which helps you move on.”

And while he moved on, Kelly has fond memories of his days at UNB, both as a player and a coach. 1998 is a big part of those memories.

“Our group was special,” he said. “You share a journey with a group of guys, there’s no guarantees of success, but you give yourself to a group and they do the same for you… and it was a special time. We’ll be tied together forever.”

Including his two seasons at the helm of the Varsity Reds, Kelly has spent more than three decades as a hockey coach.

He admits he’s not unlike other coaches, having seen his share of highs and lows.

“I don’t think any of us take it for granted,” he said. “There are no bad jobs. There are, perhaps, situations that may not be as suited as you’d like, but there are no bad jobs. You’re generally working with good people, and all striving for the same thing. If you could get that in a 9-5 job anywhere else… I haven’t found it.”

Kelly returned to work, even if only briefly, with the University Cup-bound Varsity Reds.

A bonus… visiting with his son, Jared, a third year law student at UNB.

He hadn’t planned on returning for next month’s tournament, but says the chance to see the Varsity Reds in action… and see his son again… may be too much to pass up.