joe
09-12-2008, 09:20 AM
Training the Dogs
Cicchillo looking to build on solid first season as coach
Posted By JIM WALLACE STANDARD STAFF
Posted 3 hours ago
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD style="WIDTH: 521px"></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>For a second straight season, Mario Cicchillo won't be spending New Year's Day with the Niagara IceDogs.
Earlier Thursday, the IceDogs coach was named head coach of the Ontario under-17 hockey team that will compete at the under-17 world hockey challenge in Port Albierni, B. C., Dec. 29 to Jan. 4.
Cicchillo was an assistant coach with last year's gold-medal winning team, which included IceDogs centre Andrew Agozzino.
"I appreciate they thought I was qualified to take over for (Jason) Brooks," Cicchillo said Thursday night after the Ice- Dogs rallied for a 6-4 win over the Erie Otters in an OHL exhibition game at Jack Gatecliff
Arena. Brooks resigned the position to
become head coach and assistant general manager of
the Guelph Storm.
It won't be a picnic for the 50- year-old Toronto native.
"We were there last year (in London, Ont.) for 10 days and it was pretty intense," he recalled. "I wasn't tired all the time I was there, then on my way home it hit me. I think I slept for 12 hours."
Cicchillo is entering his second year as the IceDogs head coach. He had served as assistant coach to Greg Gilbert (now with the AHL Toronto Marlies) for three years and spent a season under Mike Kelly. Previous to that, he coached Tier 2 in Brampton for seven years and another season in Milton before joining the Ice- Dogs in Mississauga.
Despite his experience, Cicchillo said he's learning something new just about every day.
<!-- Updated by Sunjoyo on July 18, 2008, as per Mantis Bug Request on July 17, 2008-->
"I learned a lot with Greg Gilbert, a lot with Mike Kelly, so you take a little bit from each of those guys and throw in my stuff and we just get going."
Cicchillo doesn't consider himself a great coach -- he has pretty high standards as to who holds that title.
"I tell a lot of guys when you think you're a great coach, you're in big trouble. There's only one great coach and that's Scott Bowman.
"All the rest of us want to get better every day. We all wish we had as many Stanley Cup rings as he has."
IceDogs owner and team governor Bill Burke couldn't be happier for Cicchillo, who guided the team to a 42-25-0-1 record in his rookie year.
"We're so honoured," Burke said. "I told him to be proud of himself because we're proud of you."
Burke said there was no question last season Cicchillo was ready to take the reins from Kelly.
"It was tough. I hadn't bought the team and (Kelly) was trying to track me down because he wanted to know what his role was. I told him he wasn't going to be head coach and it was time to pass it on to Mario.
"He's a great guy and great developing the team -- look at the way he's brought guys like (Alex) Friesen and (Andrew) Agozzino along. We're going to be OK this year because of Mario and his leadership."
Burke said Cicchillo used some of those leadership qualities Thursday after the IceDogs fell behind 3-0 in the first period before 2,048 fans. Niagara rallied with three goals in the second period -- two 67 seconds apart -- and took the lead for good in the third.
Matt Piva had two goals and an assist, Mike MacIsaac added a pair and singles went to Andrew Agozzino and Thomas Middup.
Ryan O'Reilly had two goals for the Otters and Anthony Luciani and Sean Jones added the others.
- - -
THE SCOOP
IceDogs 6 Otters 4
Jones.Standard Star of the Game: Niagara IceDogs forward Matt Piva with two goals and an assist.
For the Niagara IceDogs: Piva, Mike MacIsaac 2; Thomas Middup, Andrew Agozzino; Multiple assists: Marco Insam 2.
For the Erie Otters:Ryan O'Reilly 2; Anthony Luciani, Sean
Game stats:Shots on goal: by Niagara on Jaroslav Janus (8-10- 11), by Erie on Max Englbrecht (11-14-6) 31; Penalty minutes: Erie 16, Niagara 20; Power plays: Erie 1-for-9, Niagara 1-for- 7; Shorthanded goals: Erie 1.
Attendance:2,048.
Up next:The IceDogs play Saturday at Jack Gatecliff Arena at 7 p. m. against the Saginaw Spirit. They then face the Spirit Sunday at 2 p. m. in Woodstock to close out the exhibition schedule.
Article ID# 1196904
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1196904
Cicchillo looking to build on solid first season as coach
Posted By JIM WALLACE STANDARD STAFF
Posted 3 hours ago
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD style="WIDTH: 521px"></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>For a second straight season, Mario Cicchillo won't be spending New Year's Day with the Niagara IceDogs.
Earlier Thursday, the IceDogs coach was named head coach of the Ontario under-17 hockey team that will compete at the under-17 world hockey challenge in Port Albierni, B. C., Dec. 29 to Jan. 4.
Cicchillo was an assistant coach with last year's gold-medal winning team, which included IceDogs centre Andrew Agozzino.
"I appreciate they thought I was qualified to take over for (Jason) Brooks," Cicchillo said Thursday night after the Ice- Dogs rallied for a 6-4 win over the Erie Otters in an OHL exhibition game at Jack Gatecliff
Arena. Brooks resigned the position to
become head coach and assistant general manager of
the Guelph Storm.
It won't be a picnic for the 50- year-old Toronto native.
"We were there last year (in London, Ont.) for 10 days and it was pretty intense," he recalled. "I wasn't tired all the time I was there, then on my way home it hit me. I think I slept for 12 hours."
Cicchillo is entering his second year as the IceDogs head coach. He had served as assistant coach to Greg Gilbert (now with the AHL Toronto Marlies) for three years and spent a season under Mike Kelly. Previous to that, he coached Tier 2 in Brampton for seven years and another season in Milton before joining the Ice- Dogs in Mississauga.
Despite his experience, Cicchillo said he's learning something new just about every day.
<!-- Updated by Sunjoyo on July 18, 2008, as per Mantis Bug Request on July 17, 2008-->
"I learned a lot with Greg Gilbert, a lot with Mike Kelly, so you take a little bit from each of those guys and throw in my stuff and we just get going."
Cicchillo doesn't consider himself a great coach -- he has pretty high standards as to who holds that title.
"I tell a lot of guys when you think you're a great coach, you're in big trouble. There's only one great coach and that's Scott Bowman.
"All the rest of us want to get better every day. We all wish we had as many Stanley Cup rings as he has."
IceDogs owner and team governor Bill Burke couldn't be happier for Cicchillo, who guided the team to a 42-25-0-1 record in his rookie year.
"We're so honoured," Burke said. "I told him to be proud of himself because we're proud of you."
Burke said there was no question last season Cicchillo was ready to take the reins from Kelly.
"It was tough. I hadn't bought the team and (Kelly) was trying to track me down because he wanted to know what his role was. I told him he wasn't going to be head coach and it was time to pass it on to Mario.
"He's a great guy and great developing the team -- look at the way he's brought guys like (Alex) Friesen and (Andrew) Agozzino along. We're going to be OK this year because of Mario and his leadership."
Burke said Cicchillo used some of those leadership qualities Thursday after the IceDogs fell behind 3-0 in the first period before 2,048 fans. Niagara rallied with three goals in the second period -- two 67 seconds apart -- and took the lead for good in the third.
Matt Piva had two goals and an assist, Mike MacIsaac added a pair and singles went to Andrew Agozzino and Thomas Middup.
Ryan O'Reilly had two goals for the Otters and Anthony Luciani and Sean Jones added the others.
- - -
THE SCOOP
IceDogs 6 Otters 4
Jones.Standard Star of the Game: Niagara IceDogs forward Matt Piva with two goals and an assist.
For the Niagara IceDogs: Piva, Mike MacIsaac 2; Thomas Middup, Andrew Agozzino; Multiple assists: Marco Insam 2.
For the Erie Otters:Ryan O'Reilly 2; Anthony Luciani, Sean
Game stats:Shots on goal: by Niagara on Jaroslav Janus (8-10- 11), by Erie on Max Englbrecht (11-14-6) 31; Penalty minutes: Erie 16, Niagara 20; Power plays: Erie 1-for-9, Niagara 1-for- 7; Shorthanded goals: Erie 1.
Attendance:2,048.
Up next:The IceDogs play Saturday at Jack Gatecliff Arena at 7 p. m. against the Saginaw Spirit. They then face the Spirit Sunday at 2 p. m. in Woodstock to close out the exhibition schedule.
Article ID# 1196904
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1196904