Kitchener Coach McKee commits to captain; clarifies leadership issue

After a dressing room issue, the Kitchener Rangers hope a labelled leadership group can help move them forward.

In Erie Saturday, the team blew a one-goal lead going into the third period when they surrendered five straight goals, losing their third straight, this time to the Otters by a score of 7-3. 570 News told you about a leadership concern, after Rangers Head Coach Jay McKee called out his team in his post-game interview.

“Were having leadership issues right now in our dressing room,” McKee told 570 News when asked what happened in the third. “Some things happened between the second and third period that I won’t comment specifically on, but our team put forth an effort in the third period that started in the dressing room between the second and third.”

Not four days later, McKee and his staff named Frank Hora this year’s captain, and fellow overage players Dylan Di Perna and Darby Llewellyn alternates.

He also made sure to expand on the issues the team was facing.

“The problem with trying to keep some things in-house is people start speculating and what not, not that that matters to us, but we just had some immaturity between periods,” McKee told 570 News. “It comes down to being focused, whether that’s how guys prepare before a game or how they take care of their bodies during the week.”

“One of the lessons passed on is, at the pro level, whether it be the NHL or the AHL, one of the consistencies is how guys stay focused between periods; that’s the things said in the room, that’s the level of maturity, that’s not getting too loose.”

Still, after being visibly upset after the gut-wrenching loss Saturday, McKee wouldn’t tip his hat as to what actually happened, or what was said.

“In Erie, the walls are thin between the players room and the coaches office. We could hear what was going on, and what was being said,” McKee told 570 News. “The level of focus dipped off, and I think the result we had in the third period had a big part to do with what happened.”

At this point, it may not matter what happened; just that it doesn’t happen again. McKee and his staff have to hope by making their three overage players – Goaltender Dawson Carty being their fourth right now – their three letters, they can implement some rule in the room.

While McKee said he hadn’t been through anything like this in his 15-year NHL career, he seems pleased with the work his team put in this week.

“It’s on our guys now,” said McKee. “As coaches, we can’t sit in the players room between periods and babysit them in a sense, and make sure they’re staying focused and saying the right things. We have to go back into our office, look over the game tape and see if we can make in-game adjustments and what not.”

He’s hoping Hora and the gang can police themselves enough that episodes like Erie don’t happen again.

“I’ve had a good talk with, not only those three players, but the rest of the team about expectations, about how to train and focus and prepare to be like a pro,” said McKee. “We had a lot of talks about it, a lot of lessons have been learned over the past week and a lot of hard work has been put in.”

“I’m still very proud of this hockey club and I think there’s good things ahead of us.”

The first test comes Friday, at home, against the Owen Sound Attack.

Pre-game on 570 News begins at 7 p.m., puck-drop is at 7:30 on East Ave.