By battlefordsNOW

Players and coaches react to Bedford resignation

Jun 19, 2017 | 6:00 PM

In his many years in hockey, Battlefords North Stars goaltending coach Travis Harrington has come to expect the unexpected. So Friday’s announcement by Nate Bedford to step down after one year as the Stars’ head coach and general manager wasn’t a complete surprise.

“I knew there was a possibility a few days before the announcement,” said Harrington, who has been the North Stars goaltending coach for four seasons. “Then Friday I was at a goaltending symposium in Madison, Wisconsin and I got a text from Nate telling me his decision. It’s the hockey world, nothing surprises me.”

Bedford will now assume the role of head coach of the Portage College Voyageurs of the Alberta College Athletic Conference. This is Bedford’s third head coaching gig in as many years.

“I know the reasons behind his decision,” Harrington added. “He feels like it’s a chance to move up and it feels you are doing the best for your family.”

Under Bedford’s guidance, the North Stars won their first Canalta Cup Championship since 2000 with an astounding 48-9-1 regular season record and a perfect 12-0 run through the playoffs. The club also qualified for the Western Canada Cup in Penticton B.C. in May.

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The North Stars also set a SJHL record for fewest goals against (103) in a single season under Bedford’s defensive system and no one benefited more than goaltender Taryn Kotchorek. Together with Joel Grzybowski, the Stars had the top goaltending tandem in the SJHL posting a sparkling 1.65 goals against average with 11 shutouts between them.

“He is an amazing coach,” Kotchorek said. “[He] not only taught me a lot on the ice, but how to conduct myself away from the rink as well.”

“I was shocked when he told us on Friday. It was the last thing I seen coming,” the North Battleford resident said. “I knew he had one more year left in his contract, so I figured he would stay, but yeah it was pretty sad finding out.”

The 20-year-old goalie, who enters his final year of junior hockey eligibility this season, said he will always remember Nate Bedford for many things, but one thing stands above the rest.

“He taught us never to take a night off. Even if we were two or even three goals down that we believe in ourselves and never give up.”

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW