Kevin Delaney giving back to the community with the Hawks!

See the video

Article as seen in Hockey Stop:

He’s part-Barry Melrose, Part-Don Cherry and part-Herb Brooks, with a little Gordon Bombay thrown in for good measure. Welcome to the coaching world of Brian Farley.

“Ever since I was little, I remember watching (the) Mighty Ducks (movies) and I know that, when my paying career was over, I wanted to coach – just like Gordon Bombay, to give back what I have learned both on and off the ice,” Farley said.

Farley, 26, who grew up in Park Ridge and now lives in Niles, is a 2003 graduate of Loyola Academy and a 2008 DePaul University Graduate. his resume as a Rambler includes such ‘noteworthy’ highlights as:

Loyola Gold’s WWE Title Belt presented by the game for the hardest hits.
First played in Loyola hockey history to have over 120 penalties and reach the 50-point plateau without scoring his first goal of a season until Nov 22 (against brother Rice).
Introduced a Loyola tradition with fellow former teammates Alex Merkle and Sam Anagarone: Secret Santa.

Today it’s Coach Farley, an assistance for Loyola Maroon and hte Glenview Stars bantam elite. It is his second season with Glenview, his first with Loyola.

“I like to think of myself as a hybrid (coach) of Barry Melrose, Don Cherry, and Herb Brooks,” Farley said. “The flow of Melrose, the attire or Cherry, and the awareness of Brooks makes for a lethal combination. I see the game in every way. I tell it how I see it in the best way for the played to understand. I coach the game and how I played – like Ron Duguay.”

As for Bombay, well, he was the fictitious coach played by Emilios Estevez who, after being pilled over for drunk driving, was sentenced to community service – coaching hockey – a sport he claimed to hate. Bombay inherits the District 5 peewee hockey team, perennial losers who finish at the bottom of the league standing year after year. They are shut out every day and lose by at least 5 goals. The players, though, eventually learn that Bombay was once a player for the Hawks, an elite team in the same league, but left hockey because of the embarrassment that followed after a failed attempt at a penalty shot at the end of regulation, causing them to lose in overtime, costing them a peewee championship.

“I remember Glenview was a powerhouse squad during my playing days for the Express; they always competed against the top teams in Illinois,” Farley said. “Managing work, Delaney Hockey skills, Glenview and Loyola is somewhat challenging, but I find a way to figure it out. The Glenview squad is looking good thus far as we finished the seeding round and looks like another season in the elite division. Loyola Maroon on the other hand, is off to a slow start, but with our solid coaching staff (head coach Pete Johnson and assistance Rob Moore), we feel like the boys can overcome adversity, step up to the challenge and pass any quiz that comes our way.”

Farley’s road to the coaching posing has been aided by several, including Loyola legend and Farley’s former Gold coach D.J. LaVarre.

And also, Kevin Delaney of Chicago Young Americans fame. In 2006, Delaney asked Farley if he wanted to coach. “I knew I eventually wanted to, so why not start early,” Farley said. “I was 19 years old. Kevin and I got along on and off the ice. Thought we didn’t have a winning season, I don’t think one could have a more fun of a year than we did.”

Farley also highlighted Tony Capone, for his ability to put together a strong, well-balanced squad. Capone might not be the best practice coach, but he related to the players and demanded the basic skills and all practices revolved around them,” Farley said.

Farley adopts Andy Chomar’s intensity and knowledge of the game, which he blends into his ‘Ron Duguay style of play.’ “A tough, demanding coach who taught us how to play the style he wanted while having fun and not stepping over his toes. He pushed everyone to their absolute maximum.”

Farley highlighted LaVarre’s “ability to motivate a squad before a game.”

So what makes a good coach?

A good teacher and one who relates to the kids, Farley said. “Coaches are teachers. Anyone can read a book, or watch a game; but not everyone can break down what it’s all about. Every kid is different and teaching one kid might not work with another kid, so the hardest thing for some coaches is finding that (happy) medium. However, I believe that’s what I excel in. You need to get on the kid’s level – think, act, talk, be a kid. If you respect them, they respect you. Coaching and playing is about having fun and I think most coaches take the fun out and concentrate on the wins and losses. It’s not about winning or losing. Sometimes a more valuable lesson learned in a loss and you need to accept the loss in light of the fact that you learned a great deal. What we hear, we forget. What we see, we remember. What we do, we know.”

Farley said a bad coach is one who, “yells at kids without explaining what they did wrong and what they could have done different or right.”

“Many coaches are too into the wins and losses, and not about the development of the younger generation. Kids are not being taught the basic skills of hockey – they are just demanded to win at all costs.”

Farley said he does not feel pressure to succeed as a coach, but he thrives under pressure nonetheless. “Too much pressure is bad news; it’s about having fun,” he said. “Winning comes from focusing on execution. Maybe my blood pressure will be felt, but in terms of coaching I am not under pressure.”

Farley’s focus with Maroon is to teach and guide. “Coaching youth hockey and high school is about being a positive role model,” he said. “A coach has almost as much influence on a kid as his parents. Being a young, energetic individual, I believe I can get through to the kids and explain, teach and guide them to the top. With two different aged players, my role as an assistant coach changes and I need to think, act and e different whichever barn I am at, for whatever level I’m coaching.

“As an assistant coach with Loyola and Glenview, my role will be to push the kids are far as I believe they should be pushed, and to inspire them to do more than what they are capable of.”

Despite the Coach Farley tag, he still is Player Farley, skating in the A-League at Johnny’s Ice House.

During his Rambler days, Farley’s highlight was scoring a goal at the United Center.

“Coaching is a blast and many life lessons are learned,” he said. “Watching kids progress in every aspect of life, and assist them as much as I can. I make it fun, maybe too fun at times. I will eventually learn when that line (must be drawn) between fun and serious … but if you’re not having fun, why coach? I love coaching and staying involved in the game.”

Take a look at who came to visit the development Teams this weekend…..

None other than the Easter Bunny!!!

Who is the Green guy on the ice? None other than Kevin himself.

A fun time was had by all with the celebration of St-Patrick day at Development team practices!

ABOUT AHIHA

THE HISTORY OF THE STAN MIKITA HOCKEY SCHOOL AND THE AMERICAN HEARING IMPAIRED HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Irv Tiahnybik had a dream for his son, Lex, who is hearing impaired. He envisioned a hockey school where hearing impaired youngsters, like his son, could learn about hockey without being hassled by hearing people who couldnt deal with the needs of deaf and hard of hearing athletes.

So, in 1973, Irv, a Chicago businessman, went to his good friend, Stan Mikita. He asked Mikita, then playing for the National Hockey Leagues Chicago Blackhawks, for help launching the school. The rest, as they say, is history.

These determined and dedicated men formed their own team and began to organize the effort in earnest. They found othersvolunteers like themselves…who were willing to give their time and talent to organize a first-ever hearing impaired hockey clinic. They followed a gut feeling that what they were doing was right and sorely needed.

Stan and Irv quickly discovered that they were right on target. The first Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Hearing Impaired was a tremendous success. Thirty-one deaf and hard of hearing boys from several states ventured to Chicago for a weeks worth of instruction and fun.

Over the years, the hockey school has continued to attract new players with many of the early team members returning to the ice as well. The first benefit game between Mikita’s All Stars and the AHIHA Varsity Squad was held in 1975, the second year of the school, and has become a crowd pleaser every year since. In fact, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita skated together again at the 1983 benefit game.

The U.S. Deaflympic Hockey Team, comprised mainly of members of Stan Mikita’s Hockey School Varsity squad, has won a gold, two silver, and a bronze medal at the last four Winter Deaflympic games. And a number of AHIHA “graduates” have gone on to successful playing careers at high schools, colleges and have played in tier one and tier two junior hockey leagues.

AHIHA is now a self-perpetuating organization with many of the original hockey school students assuming AHIHA administrative and coaching positions. As a result, they are guiding and teaching the school’s second generation of students.

For more information on AHIHA history, see Accomplishments or Highlights.