By / Carl Chimenti
Last season is one the North York Rangers, Atom AAA team would soon like to forget. Eddie Choi was selected as the new coach for this season and even though he came with great credentials as a former U.S. college hockey player at Ohio State, a teacher at both St. Michael’s college and at his hockey school, people were skeptical.
Quietly, Choi, has turned things around and the team has posted an (8-5-4) record, tops in the Rangers AAA system.
“The parents are thrilled and we have surpassed all expectations,” says Choi. “We have resurrected the dead in terms of taking a team from the basement to respectability.”
Choi hand-picked the team of 15 players out of a tryout of 150 and the players have bought into his philosophy of work hard and fun.
“I was very careful to pick the right kids,” explained Choi. “These kids are so passionate and they want to prove themselves.”
The Rangers roll three forward lines and two sets of defensemen which provides equal ice time.
They play a high tempo skating game similar to the Edmonton Oilers glory days of the 80s.
“Basically, everyone is working well in a team concept,” says Choi. “I bring a positive attitude to the kids and if they make a mistake, we simply teach them to learn from it.”
The team’s goal from the beginning was to be a top four team and so far so good as they currently sit fourth, just a handful of points from the top spot.
“If you shoot for the moon, you will fall among the stars,” said Choi. |