Walking Away

When it was announced that former NHL head coach Mike Babcock was joining the Saskatchewan Huskies men's hockey team as their head coach following Dave Adolph's departure from the program, there was some excitement that Babcock's presence would help to elevate U SPORTS and Canada West hockey in a big way. Saskatchewan had a good season at 12-7-1-0, but they never seemed to find the magic needed to leap ahead of teams such as Mount Royal and UBC. After being upset in the first round of the Canada West playoffs by Calgary in three games, there was a feeling of unfinished business in Saskatoon after it felt like the Huskies fell short of the expected goal.

It was a bit of shock yesterday, in knowing that there may be unfinished business, that Mike Babcock announced he was resigning as head coach of the Huskies. The former Mighty Ducks, Red Wings, and Maple Leafs coach will leave the coaching dutied to Brandin Cote, the man Babcock helped select to eventually succeed him. Cote likely didn't expect to succeed him in Year Two, but here we are with Cote at the helm and Babcock moving to new opportunities.

You may be asking why this happened just as we were yesterday on The Hockey Show. Today, we got our answer from Mike Babcock thanks to an interview on AM 680 CKOM in Saskatoon.

"We always said we were going to retire at 60 and I'm 59, so basically that's what it is," Babcock said during the radio interview. "Now, if things change, I guess they change, but surely that's not our plan.

"Believe me, we've talked to lots of people about opportunities and enjoyed those conversations. In the end, we feel this is best for us and best for our family and so that's what we’re doing."

If that reason sounds a little fabricated, I assure you that it's not.

Back in September 2021, he spoke to David Singh about the Huskies opportunity where he told Singh, "I've always planned on retiring at 60. I'd have to work fast. You know, if you go back to the NHL, you're going back for five years."

April 29, 2023 will be Babcock's 60th birthday, so it wouldn't have been surprising if he came back for one more season with the Huskies. In his discussion with Cote about the change, it seems that Babcock isn't worried about the program with Cote in charge.

"I'm excited for Brandin and his family. He is prepared to be a highly successful coach," said Babcock. "I believe he will elevate the Huskies play and profile even further. I look forward to seeing him continue down the path of what promises to be an incredible career."

Whatever people feel about Mike Babcock and what he's done in the past, it seems that he's leaving the game on his own accord with his head held high. There has been behaviour in the past that likely will be discussed when his name is mentioned, and I can certainly say there were moments from his one season coaching the Huskies that will land on both sides of the ledger when it comes to his successes and failures both on and off the ice.

I'm not here to celebrate nor denigrate Mike Babcock on the day of his stepping away from the game, though. I simply feel like Mike Babcock's presence in Canada West hardly moved the needle when it came to drawing attention to Canadian university hockey. I don't understand why there wasn't more done to have Babcock promote the game, but it seems that wasn't a priority for any party who had a stake in that opportunity. This seems like an opportunity lost with Babcock walking away from the game yesterday.

For Babcock, though, he's moving into a new chapter of his life where hockey isn't at the forefront. When asked what would define his career by Singh in his interview, Babcock stated, "This is what the measure for my wife and I is: The impact our kids have on society. So, when someone sits down one day and says, 'What matters to you?' I'm not going to say the Stanley Cup or Olympic gold medals. I'm going to say my kids. And maybe one day their successful marriages and their grandkids and all those. That's what matters to me. That's the measure of me as a man, not this other stuff."

That's the kind of answer that one would expect from someone who is ready to move on from the game. As he prepares to move on, Babcock says he will enjoy hunting, skiing and spending time with his family - something that he hasn't been able to do a lot of as he moved around the country for coaching opportunities. He'll likely spend more time in Michigan, visit his kids more often, and spend more time with his wife doing the things they enjoy.

In other words, he'll be retired. Just as he planned all along.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!