New Meteors staff settling in
Chris Risi, left, Dave Marrone, centre, and Steve Dol, right. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ
It has been a small sample size, but so far so good for the new Fort Erie Meteors coaching staff.
Head coach Dave Marrone and his staff took over earlier this month after the Meteors parted ways with Rob Hubbert, and Marrone has loved the experience thus far.
“Thrilled,” Marrone said when asked about his first three weeks on the job. “It’s been a lot of fun. It’s not been without challenges, but there are four or five kids here who are going to play hockey at the next level — at least. Hopefully we can show them what it takes to get there and help them understand they can do it.
“It’s been great. This is one of the best rooms I’ve ever been involved with.”
Marrone brought assistants Chris Risi and Steve Dol with him while longtime Fort Erie assistant Joe Fazio remained. Risi, a former Sutherland Cup champion with the Thorold Blackhawks and NCAA player, handles the forwards and skill development, while Dol, a former Stratford Cullution who also played at the NCAA level, works with Fazio and the defence.
“I think it’s harder on Chris and Steve to implement systems in a timely manner,” Marrone said. “There is a very short timeline to execute. They have high expectations that players are going to catch on, but it’s going to take time.”
Marrone feels the staff works together in much the same manner as he did with general manager Rocky Venditti and co-owner Mike Gualitieri in Thorold.
“Joe Fazio has been here forever and does a great job,” Marrone said. “It’s a different version of what Rocky and I did. It’s a newer version. I oversee it and I am responsible. I run the bench.
“Chris and Steve are able to execute strategy with 2020 teaching methods which I think this team was lacking. I think a combination of all the different personalities, we might be on to something.”
Risi, who owns and operates Hockey PerforMax skill development, is enjoying the experience.
“We’re hockey guys. We’re always around the rink,” he said. “It’s never a tough sell to come in to do this kind of thing, mind you it is a big commitment. You have to push a few things aside but from a hockey standpoint, it’s a no-brainer.
“It’s been what I thought. It’s different being on the opposite side of the arena sometimes but you still have that competitive spirit — sometimes you want to jump out there yourself — but it’s what we expected.”
Risi loves the teaching aspect of his position.
“I know my biggest goal was to teach kids something,” he said. “You always want to pass on your knowledge. We played at a little higher level and see a lot of stuff, so it’s good to pass knowledge. We’re only here for a short time this season. There’s only a couple of months left in the season so we’re trying to teach them as much as we can and be competitive.
“If you can take a team from point A to where you think point B should be and they respond to it, it’s good. They’ve responded. It’s a good group of young men and a good group of players.”
The Meteors have responded to the new staff with two wins, two losses and a double overtime defeat.
“What a great group of kids, what a great group of people,” Marrone said. “Everybody cares. The kids were looking for positive reinforcement and for a group of people that really cared about them.
“I think we’re making steps in the right direction.”
The Meteors, who have added four forwards and a defenceman to their roster since the new staff have arrived, are home to Caledonia Thursday in a make-up game from last week. They also host Niagara Falls Saturday and are in Buffalo Sunday.
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