The Humboldt Broncos have their man.
After an extensive search, the Broncos named Nathan Oystrick as the new head coach and general manager of the green and gold.
“On behalf of my wife and I, I would like to thank the Humboldt Broncos hockey club and organization for the opportunity to be this organization’s next head coach and general manager. My wife and I are excited to move to Saskatchewan and to be joining the tremendous community of Humboldt,” said Oystrick at his introductory press conference.
“We’re grateful for the warm welcome that I’ve received so far since I’ve been here and I look forward to leading the Humboldt Broncos but will never forget the circumstances which have brought me here.”
Born in Regina, Oystrick comes to Humboldt from Denver, where he coached high school hockey at Colorado Academy.
The 35-year-old made his coaching debut in 2016-2017, serving as an assistant coach on the ECHL’s (East Coast Hockey League) Atlanta Gladiators.
Prior to beginning his coaching career Oystrick spent ten seasons playing pro hockey in the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and overseas in Russia.
Oystrick also brings junior A experience, having played two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League, and served as captain for his final two seasons at Northern Michigan University.
“Nathan has a background in coaching that is new but yet is exciting for this organization. He’s had the opportunity to be an assistant coach… and then from there was the high school coach in Colorado… so he’s dealt with athletes in this age group as well,” said Broncos president Kevin Garinger.
On the ice, Oystrick said the Broncos will play a fast-paced, in your face style of hockey, a style he believes is best suited to today’s game.
“We’re going to play a pressure game. Having played at different levels I know that pressure is a big thing in the game.”
Oystrick said he comes to the Broncos with the goal of winning championships, but says the development of good people is also important.
“Off the ice I want to build relationships with the people of Humboldt, in the community and help wherever and whenever I can. The players and I will be heavily involved in the community events and you will get to know me and the players very well.”
Of course, there will also be pressure on the young coach as well, but despite having more eyeballs on the club than normal, Oystrick said he does not feel any extra pressure.
“Any time you hire a new head coach there’s pressure. I put pressure on myself to do well. I want to succeed at everything that I do… when Kevin and the board offered me the position, the preparation started right there,” he said.
“I’m committed. I want to be here, I want to learn, I want to make the Humboldt Broncos organization, and the community proud of not only me but of our team. It’s a work in progress, I’m going to have a lot of work to do obviously still and that work won’t ever stop.”
Oystrick was selected from a pool of more than 50 candidates, said Garinger, who added the club was looking to hire a good person.
“What I appreciate about Nathan in general is that he is committed to people first and through the commitment to people comes a commitment then to an organization, a community, and ultimately a hockey team,” said Garinger.
“We want to continue the path that we’d been on in the past, which is to try and build strong character but ultimately try and bring championships to Humboldt as well.”
Having a coach now in place, is huge for the organization, said Garinger, who said the organization can more forward with a new face.
“The face and the heart and soul of this organization was Darcy Haugan. It was not me. I was never on the radio, I never talked to cameras, I never had to do any of that. It’s not something I ever wanted to do. We have someone here now who can step into that role. That’s a critical and important role for this community and for this organization.”
While Oystrick’s hiring ticks one of the boxes, there are still many left unchecked, including the assistant head coach and athletic therapist positions.
Garinger said with a head coach now in place, making those hirings are part of the next step.
Oystrick’s hiring comes less than two months before the start of training camp, and while Oystrick is not familiar with many of the players on the roster, he said getting to know his players will be an important step in the process.
“(Once) , the players come in, it’s going to be sitting down with each and every player, getting to know them, having them in return get to know me. Players learn different, they react different to different coaching styles. I think I’m a pretty open, honest, positive person and that’s helped me in my past. I try to keep things upbeat and I hope that my players appreciate that.”
Oystrick replaces the late Darcy Haugan, who was one of the 16 lives lost in the tragic April 6 accident.
“I did not know Darcy Haugan but like so many people in this world today, I wish I had. His core covenant will remain where he placed it on the wall outside the Broncos dressing room. I believe in his commitment to not just developing skilled hockey players but developing great human beings and I hope that I can make him proud.”
Oystrick, along with wife Lindsay, and their dog Wiley will be moving to the community in the coming weeks.
