Sam Coulter: MSU Hockey Player to Head Coach

Sam Coulter: MSU Hockey Player to Head Coach

Thinking back on it, I was destined to wind up working in an ice rink. If you ask my parents, they’ll even tell you my first word was “Zamboni.” As luck would have it, my mom grew up in British Columbia and, like most Canadians, she could skate pretty well. She was more than willing to get involved in coaching the Learn to Skate classes at our local rink in Gillette, Wyoming, and when I was 4 years old she signed me up and put me on the ice.

After a year or so of classes I was able to move around the ice, execute the basic skills and was ready to join a hockey program. My sister went into figure skating and, although my brother and I were more passionate about hockey, we still took part in a few competitions and skating shows.

Hockey became a huge part of my life. When I was 11 years old, I made it into the local paper because I scored a hat trick (three goals) in a tournament championship game. Best. Day. Ever. I was motivated to train harder, and I made it into the paper a few more times after that... Fast forward a few years to when I was looking at colleges, and it was an easy decision for me to come to Bozeman, study at Montana State University and continue playing hockey by joining the Bobcats.

I was honored to play for MSU for three seasons, and was part of the team that made it to the National Championships for the first time in the team’s history. Alongside my studies and my training, I started helping out with some of the youth programs and found I really enjoyed coaching. When the MSU head coach (who is also the Gallatin Ice GM), Dave Weaver, asked me to work for him to help expand the program, I jumped at the chance. I love living in Bozeman, and being given the opportunity to give back to the sport that changed my life is a dream come true.

In May of this year, I became the Assistant Hockey Director for Gallatin Ice. I am responsible for running the Termites, Mites and Mountain League programs (the programs that introduce kids to hockey). I am also the Head Coach for one of the two MSU teams, and the Head Coach for the 18U Montana Wolves team. It’s great to be a part of an organization that is reshaping hockey in Montana.

I’ve only been in this job for a few months, and I’ve already seen a couple of amazing firsts. I have seen our rink open up in the summer for the first time ever. I have seen a couple of our Adult League players get married at center ice (congratulations Brad and Jessica!!). My personal highlight has to be that our MSU Division 2 team (my old team) beat the twotime defending National Champions. So far, it’s been a great start.

If there are any words of wisdom I wish I could impart on those who want to get involved in hockey, it’s these: Learn to skate before you try to pick up a stick, and watch as many games as you can. First of all, getting around the ice is kind of a prerequisite for chasing the puck. I was lucky, because my mom was a figure skating coach, but the kids that come into our program don’t always know how important skating skills are. Everyone knows how important stickhandling, passing and shooting are but it’s all for naught if you can’t get around the ice.

Second, watching games improves your peripheral vision and develops an understanding of the game. Don’t take my word for it, Wayne Gretzky said that. If you want your kids to play hockey well, they should watch the experts do it.

We’re really fortunate to have a number of great players who skate at our rink. Every weekend there are games that folks can come and watch live – and there’s nothing quite like watching a hockey game live. Between the Bozeman Ice Dogs, the MSU Division 2 guys and the MSU Division 3 guys (that’s my team, in case you’re wondering), there is always something going on at the rink that is worth watching. The atmosphere when our top hockey players are leaving it all out on the ice is something that has to be seen to be believed.

Although I still play, now you’re more likely to see me behind the bench helping my teams. I am glad I got to play my best hockey for the Bobcats here in Bozeman. Getting to guide the next generation, and help them learn how to play their best hockey, I couldn’t ask for more.