Reapers New Assistant Coach Faces Pushback From Joe Exotic

[Joe Exotic 32]

In the days after Reapers rookie assistant coach, Dan Ianeagle, landed a job as for the Philadelphia Reapers in November, he was tasked with a bevy of responsibilities by GM & Coach @DMaximus.

Among them, Ianeagle was charged with devising a new breakout play for a team that has long struggled to get the puck out of its own end. Ianeagle thought he’d hit on an effective strategy — until, that is, he shared the plan with Reapers top rookie Joe Exotic. When Exotic voiced displeasure, Ianeagle discovered a harsh reality of life in the VHLM. In some corners of the league, and apparently in Reaperland, a coach’s learning curve involves bending to the desires of star players.

 

At least, such was the gist of an anecdote Ianeagle shared at a coaches’ clinic at which he was a guest speaker last month, this according to interviews with three minor-hockey coaches who were in attendance.

 

“Ianeagle said that when he went to Joe (with the breakout play), Joe said, I’m not doing it,” said one of the attendees, a former professional player.

 

Said another: “Ianeagle was saying (that) these are the things I’ve got to deal with now that I’ve never had to deal with. In the KHL (where Ianeagle coached last season with the a top club), when you’re the coach what you say goes. Whereas now that I’m here (in the VHLM), I’ve got a guy telling me: No. I’m not going to do that.”

 

The 46-year-old Ianeagle told the group that he made @DMaximus aware of the pushback he’d received from Exotic, 19, who signed with Philadelphia as a top prospect.

 

“Ianeagle said @DMaximus’s attitude was that we’re fired before (Exotic is) out of here, the hierarchy doesn’t want to deal with Joe. He scored a goal a game in every league he has played in and that’s all they want,” said one of the attendees. “(Ianeagle said) Joe hates coaches. He hates @DMaximus. He hates me and I don’t even know him yet.”

 

One of the minor-hockey coaches who was in attendance said Ianeagle spoke of Exotic’s alleged hatred of coaches with his “tongue in cheek.” Another said he was “shocked” at Ianeagle’s candour. Indeed, given the club’s historic bent toward secrecy, the clinic amounted to a rare window into the inner workings of the Reapers. Ianeagle was complimentary of Exotic, telling his audience that the winger is one of the smartest hockey minds he’s worked with. Ianeagle also marvelled at how Exotic — who Ianeagle estimated during the lecture is “15 pounds overweight” — remains an explosive speedster.

 

The Reapers assistant shared other tidbits. He told the clinic that the team’s search for better defensive play will see them strongly discourage defencemen from making high-risk keep-in plays at the opposing blue line — pinching, in the parlance. Ianeagle said that Philadelphia’s defencemen will be instructed to “never trust a forward” to backcheck or cover.

 

Ianeagle also told the group that the Reapers need to improve communication with players. While the VHLM team and its top minor-league affiliate conduct practices in rinks separated by the lobby of their Philly training facility, Ianeagle said there wasn’t enough synergy between the clubs last season; their Xs and Os on power plays and penalty kills, for instance, differed. Since the Reapers have repeatedly spoken of the importance of developing players through the junior system, Ianeagle said it would make more sense for the Reapers to play a closer to style to what you'll see in the VHL.

 

Joe Exotic could not be reached for additional comment.