Few coaches run their teams quite like Westside Warriors first-year bench boss Darren Yopyk. In fact, he prefers a different title.
“If I had a choice, I wouldn’t be called `Head Coach’; I’d be called `Head Educator,'” says Yopyk. “To me, the BCHL is a developmental league and my job is to help develop these young men into mature adults and good citizens. If I can do that, then as individuals and as a team we’re going to be successful.”
If Yopyk’s approach to development sounds academic, he comes by it honestly. After completing an undergraduate degree at Princeton, he went on to obtain both his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While completing his studies he served as a graduate assistant coach with the Men’s Hockey program. And now, in Westside, Yopyk has incorporated many of the psychological aspects of the game into his overall approach to coaching.
“There are different tricks that we use, but we just talk a lot and try to train the mental side of the game,” he says. “But we’re always training players how to take a slapshot, how to skate and how to pass the puck, but a lot of the time we fail to teach them how to think manage a game.”
While a player’s mental skill-set may seem tougher to put your finger on than the physical elements of his game, Yopyk uses a simple principle to guide his team.
“We talk a lot about controlling the things that you can control. Whether it’s the referee, an opponent’s play, the crowd, or bad ice, those are the things you can’t control. We focus on what you can control; things like work ethic, preparation, and effort.”
Yopyk applies psychology to more than just improving on-ice performance; he also takes pride in guiding his players with the challenges they face away from the rink.
“In this day and age, there are so many other issues going on for these athletes. Whether it’s school, working towards a scholarship, their home life or figuring out what to do when hockey is finished, there are always issues going on and a healthy mind-set helps keep them balanced.”
As a former NCAA player and assistant coach, the 33-year old understands the pressures faced by young men hoping to earn a university scholarship. Growing up in St. Paul, Alberta, Yopyk hoped to combine his athletic and scholastic goals at a top-ranked university. He fulfilled that ambition at Princeton, earning an Ivy League education while developing an interest in coaching. Now he deals with young men hoping to follow a similar path.
“I’ve been in the NCAA as a player and as a coach, so I understand what it’s about,” he explains. “It can be a tough process getting a college scholarship and figuring out where it is you want to go. I feel like I can help walk them through that process. I was there recruiting guys – just like they’re getting recruited right now.”
It was at Merrimack College where Yopyk spent the last four years scouting Canadian Junior A leagues. His familiarity with the style and caliber of play in the BCHL helps explain the seamless transition during his first season behind the bench in Westside. With five games remaining in the regular season, the Warriors have clinched third place in a tough Interior Conference.
Conversely, a pair of Yopyk’s current players will now be making the trip to Merrimack to embark on their NCAA careers. Defenceman Brendan Ellis, who leads all BCHLers at his position with 55 points, will be a Warrior this fall in part because of his present coach’s connections at the North Andover, MA campus.
“I want the best for our players and I meet with them regularly to figure out what they’re looking for in a school. I will try my best to help them find the best fit for each of them both athletically and academically.”
For now, Yopyk and his approach to coaching have the Warriors in a strong position as the BCHL playoffs near and a shot at the Fred Page Cup looms.
“We have our work cut out for us with Penticton and Vernon having record-breaking seasons,” he says. “But at the end of the day, I’m measured by our wins and losses. If we can develop people properly, the best players are going to come in and we’re going to win a lot of games.”
