Bouchard Preaches Positivity, One Day At A Time Mindset

Jan 6, 2022

By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com

Positivity is the word of the day around the San Diego Gulls.

Head coach Joel Bouchard met with the media today, his first since the team’s postponed matchup against the Stockton Heat on Wednesday, December 22. Since that game, the Gulls found themselves following enhanced COVID-19 protocols at the direction of team medical staff and the American Hockey League, become one of several teams to experience an unfortunate pause this season.

As the team eyes a return to the games tomorrow, Bouchard preached he’s spent this time away taking things one day at a time.

“I realize the big picture of this situation and we all have personal situations or people affected,” he explained following today’s practice. “I think we’re pretty lucky. The Ducks and the Gulls organizations are so professional on that situation so from my own standpoint, it’s one day at a time and I’m keeping the positive attitude because we know how many people are struggling right now with everything, with jobs and health and stuff. So, we’re just keeping everybody safe in the organization as much as we can so from my standpoint, I will not say it’s been hard. 

“The way that I’m able to channel what’s going on and I know we’re going to be back playing hockey soon and the guys have been the same way, to be honest. Everybody understands where we’re at and we’re going to go that way for the rest of the season. One day at a time.”

The team did its best during this unexpected break, with players and coaches utilizing teleconferencing and individualized workouts to stay in shape. After dropping three straight games before the pause, Bouchard explained his staff took the time to both re-evaluate and prepare for the team’s return.

“So, what we try to do is recreate a shift, recreate a 40-second shift where there actually is some speed, some physical engagement and to kind of push them to be next level,” he said. “Push it and push it and everybody is pushing each other so you kind of get back to that game speed, but you’re right and then when you go with small numbers on the ice, it’s tough to recreate the five-on-five game. There’s ways and we’ve used those 40-second shifts and those kind of situations where a player needs to think offense and defense and offense and defense and offense and defense in the same sequence and get that bit of grit.

“We’re doing the best we can, and the players have been doing really good and I really mean that. I don’t just say it because it’s my job to tell you the guys have been great. No, they have. If they’re not great, they’re going to know, not good enough, they’re going to know if we’re not good enough. The guys have been really engaged through the process of missing a lot of days or not being able to skate as much or, like you said, enough physical contact. As a coaching standpoint, we’re hitting the mark when we can.”

Adding to the pause is the National Hockey League’s reinstatement of a temporary Taxi Squad for its clubs. Under the guidelines – instituted to help the league avoid COVID-19 postponements – clubs can assign a maximum of six (6) players to their Taxi Squad. This addition, set to dissolve after each team’s final game before the NHL’s All-Star Break, means several Gulls will rotate between time in Anaheim and San Diego.

The ever-changing roster is nothing new to Bouchard, who explained how coaches in the American Hockey League are well versed in making changes on the fly.

“I always tell this story, you could be working on the power play Thursday and ready for a game on Friday in the AHL and then four guys are gone the next day and everything you’ve worked on is kind of something to forget for the next game,” he said. “So, we’re used to changes, used to control very little. That’s why it’s not a big change for us, but again, when you picture everything that’s going on around the world and it gives us time to work with the guys on other things. It’s been a long time since we’ve played, but we know we’re going to resume at one point and we’ll go with it.”

To prep for a return to play, the Gulls are looking to reset and attack with a new mindset. Bouchard explained following the team’s 3-1 win over the rival Ontario Reign on Saturday, Dec. 11, he felt his squad only met its internal goals once in the following three games. He discussed the Gulls season-high five-game win streak (Nov. 19 – Nov. 27) as a stretch where he felt they reached their potential, playing solid defense and taking steps forward as a young team.

Away from competition for almost two weeks, Bouchard’s challenge is to push San Diego to those heights again with new methods to land his message.

“It’s a long time and then we’ve got to rebuild back with the guys,” he said. “I can be pushing the guys when we’re right there and now, I’ve got to be pushing them a little bit differently, obviously. We’re going to get back to the swings of things here, but the players’ attitudes have been great. They’ve been working hard and everything that happened so let’s see how we do.”