Jamie Brake has taken hockey coaching seriously enough to have completed several clinics, including the High Performance 1 course, one of the highest levels that can be achieved in Canada.
It might be surprising, then, that his go-to advice for any players that find themselves under his guidance is this: It’s just a game.
“There’s a very small few that play the game at an elite level,” he said. “But it’s a good game and you’re able to play it to the later ages of your life.
“It’s the lifelong memories and friendships. That’s the most important key I find about hockey.”
Brake knows of what he speaks, considering the 42-year-old has been involved with the sport most of his life, coming up as a player through the Port aux Basques Minor Hockey Association.
That led him to a stint of junior hockey on the west coast, and eventually senior hockey games with the Corner Brook Royals, Deer Lake Red Wings and Port aux Basques Mariners.
As much as he enjoyed playing — and he’s far from through with that, still lacing them up regularly in the city rec league — coaching has become his new passion.
It was 2003 and Brake was 27, working a job in Clarenville, no kids of his own, and playing some intermediate hockey in the area. A man approached him with a request for help with a bantam team he was coaching.
“It’s been a snowball effect ever since,” said Brake.
His reasons for wanting to get involved were sincere — he had a positive experience thanks to so many good coaches and mentors over the years, and he wanted to pay it forward.
“I wanted to give (minor hockey players) opportunities to learn and love the game like I grew to love it,” he said.
He’s been able to pass along his expertise to plenty of young hopefuls since he started standing behind the bench.
Currently, he coaches the Western Knights of the provincial minor midget hockey league, the bantam A Corner Brook Royals, and serves as assistant coach with the provincial team headed to Red Deer, Alta. in February for the 2019 Canada Winter Games.
His approach to each team, every player, may change depending on the skill level, but his mantra never does. The overall goal remains the same — to teach life lessons.
“For on and off the ice,” he said. “Give them good life skills to become fine young men or ladies.”
And his propensity for personal development doesn’t stop with his puck pupils. He’s hoping to pursue coaching even beyond the province, even gazing ahead at potential opportunities to coach junior hockey on the mainland.
“That’s the lifelong goal for sure,” he said.
