Peters bringing positive vibes to Canes dressing room

By Lethbridge Herald on January 4, 2024.

Herald File Photo Lethbridge Hurricanes coach Bill Peters works the bench during a game on Dec. 29, 2023. Peters is going through his second training camp with the team this week and will look for growth from within the players.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters feels he is  settling in well in his first season with the hockey club and the players are feeling the positive vibe in the dressing room as a result.

“It’s good,” said Peters.

“It’s a good group of young men to work with, a real good staff and it’s enjoyable. Everyone looks forward to coming to work every day and that’s all you can ask for.”

Peters biggest challenge has been trying to identify that level of consistency with the players.

“(And) keep making sure they’re dialed in and just the challenges of dealing with all the distractions that they have in the modern era,” said Peters.

“ So we just stay with it and help them along .”

Peters wants to see consistency in the team’s identity.

“We have a style of play that we want to get to,” said Peters.

“When we play well, we know what it looks like. We’re able to get to it at certain times for segments, certain 2,3,4 game segments, but we’re a little bit in and out there. So we’ll continue to work on the consistency.”

Peters has not coached in the league since the 2007-2008 season with the Spokane Chiefs and has seen change in the game at this level.

“It’s (a) fantastic league,” said Peters.

“ Players are more skilled I would say across the board coming in now, (and) year-round commitment by these guys — whether it’s on ice, off ice, training — they’re very committed to their craft and it shows with the one-ice product in the Western Hockey League.”

Forward Blake Swetlikoff has liked the energy and atmosphere that Peters brings to the room.

“Obviously his detail in the game is incredible and he’s got a lot of knowledge about the sport which everyone can learn from that,” said Swetlikoff.

“But coming  into the rink every day, he’s always positive, and really energetic and he brings a lot of overall good vibes I guess to the room. So I think the guys react well to that.”

Defenceman Noah Chadwick thinks Peters is a “super good hockey mind.”

“Really effective communicator,” said Chadwick.

“(He) gets his messages across clearly. So  I got nothing but positives to say about Bill.”

Forward Tyson Zimmer how Peters keeps things loose in the room during periods where a season can be tense.

“He keeps it loose,” said Zimmer.

“We’re not getting too tight. I mean obviously it’s frustrating going on losing streaks and stuff. But like you said, he keeps us positive, he keeps us going.”