Brad Larson has been named the new coach of the Springfield Falcons. Brad has served as assistant coach for the falcons for the past 2 years. Now just in case you are thinking big deal, who cares. Let me say that this is the man who will be responsible for filling the pipeline to Columbus with players ready to take their place in the NHL. His, responsibility will be to develop players skills, their physical attributes, improve their habits and instincts and at the same time play winning hockey.
For example, Boone Jenner, one of the Blue Jackets top prospects and more precious commodities is expected to be on the Falcons roster. In Boone’s case he actually played 5 games with the Falcons at the end of this year. Boone will turn 19 this June. His body is still maturing. He is trying to step into the world of professional hockey at the AHL level. He has many things to learn in this step of his life. It will be Brad Larson’s job to help him develop in a timely manner and still play winning hockey at Springfield. And he has this function with at least half his roster with perhaps different expectations on each player. All in all he is a KEY part of the Blue Jacket organization and the blue Jackets future. And you can bet that Craig Patrick had input into this.
Here are several viewpoints on Brad Larson from 2010 and 1011
Larsen goes from ice to bench
Thursday, 08.26.2010 / 9:00 AM / AHL Update
By Lindsay Kramer – NHL.com Correspondent
Brad Larsen has earned the right to a fresh start and an optimistic outlook.
The Columbus Blue Jackets gave it to him last week when they named him an assistant coach in Springfield fresh off his 13-year playing career.
Whatever he lacks in coaching experience, Larsen more than makes up for as an example to keep fighting through the setbacks of the sport and life.
Last spring, shortly after he finished his season playing for the Portland Pirates, Larsen, 33, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He said surgery and radiation appear to have successfully treated the problem, not that he considered the possibility of anything but a positive resolution.
Brad Larsen (Photo Credit: Dan Hickling)
“You can’t focus on the negative. It will bring you down. I’ve always believed that in the face of adversity you find the true character of someone,” Larsen said. “Everyone goes through something. You can’t worry about it. I always look for the solution, not the problem.”
Larsen has had far too much practice in that type of search. His last two seasons alone could have easily been spirit-breakers. Hip and abdomen ailments cost him the entire 2008-09 season, when he was with the Anaheim Ducks. Last year, he took a shot off his right foot in Portland’s first home game, fracturing one bone in three places and chipping two other bones. Later in that same game he was nailed in the jaw by a stick, causing a concussion.
“It’s one of those things that’s unavoidable in the game. The more you deal with it, you realize you can’t control it,” he said. “What I realized is you can’t channel your energy toward the frustration and disappointment. Looking back, it’s something that helped build my character.”
Larsen, a forward who played in 294 NHL games, said the one productive side to all his downtime was that it made him get a feel for what life after hockey would be like. He thought coaching could be the next step, he just didn’t know when. Even after his fight with cancer this summer he still planned on playing this year, but came up with a different decision when he consulted his gut.
“I felt I had exhausted myself physically and emotionally in the game,” he said. “I felt my play starting to decline. When you lose the drive and that passion is not there, it’s time to move on.”
Larsen sounded the starter’s pistol on the next phase by firing off his resume to Columbus. Several interviews later — and once the Blue Jackets were certain he was done playing — Larsen had a job with the Falcons.
“My mindset was in coaching. This coaching job came out of nowhere,” he said. “Learning has never scared me. I was never a high-profile guy. I had to scratch and claw. I’ve been up and down. I can look myself in the mirror and be proud of what I accomplished in an injury-filled career. I’m excited to start something new.”
And this one from the start of last season
Brad Larsen – Assistant Coach
Brad Larsen returns for his second season as assistant coach of the Springfield Falcons. Larsen spent the 2010-11 campaign assisting head coach Rob Riley behind the Falcons’ bench overseeing Springfield’s defensemen.
Larsen concluded his 13-year playing career after the 2009-10 campaign with the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates collecting 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points in 55 games. The 34-year-old native of Nakusp, British Columbia played in a total of 384 career AHL games totaling 96 goals and 120 assists for 216 points spending time with the Hershey Bears, Chicago Wolves and Portland. He helped lead Chicago to the 2005 Calder Cup Finals collecting 11 points in 18 post-season games.
Larsen was also a veteran of 294 career NHL contests recording 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points splitting time between the Colorado Avalanche and Atlanta Thrashers. He was selected by the Avalanche in the fourth round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Larsen split the first seven seasons of his pro career between Colorado and Hershey before being claimed on waivers by Atlanta on February 25, 2004.
Prior to starting his pro career, Larsen played his junior hockey with the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos from 1993-1997. In 238 career WHL games, he totaled 249 points and was named to the 1997 WHL East All Star Team.
Remember We want the cup and what comes from Springfield will certainly influence the fortunes of the Jackets