When Travis Moen retired from the NHL he probably could have jumped right to a professional or junior coaching job.
Moen not only played 747 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup, but his two-way style of game often lends itself to success in the coaching ranks.
Instead, the Stewart Valley product opted to help guide his son, Carter, through minor hockey in Swift Current.
Now, as Carter climbs to the WHL, so does Travis.
Moen has signed up this season as an assistant on new Broncos Head Coach Dean DeSilva’s staff.
“I’ve always enjoyed coaching,” Moen said. “Obviously, last year I helped with the Legionnaires, and I’ve coached that U11, U13, U15. I really enjoyed last year coaching the Legionnaires. I thought it’d be a great time to step up and join the WHL.
“My kid is trying out for the team and it’s a local team. Obviously, I grew up in this area, so I always went to Bronco games and enjoyed watching that. To be able to step in and do something where I don’t have to move away to do it is key too.”
Carter Moen checks Maddox Schultz. (Photo by Shawn Mullin)
Moen feels it might have been an advantage to start his coaching career with younger players and work his way up.
“It definitely tests your patience a little more,” Moen said. “You’re working a lot with skill development. I moved up from U9, U11, 13, 15, all the way up. It’s great to grow with your players. Hopefully, in the next couple of years, we’ll be coaching against a lot of the players that I coached growing up. That’s what it’s all about. It’s trying to make kids better. That’s my take on being a coach here. The steps of making kids hopefully reach their dreams.”
Broncos GM Chad Leslie felt they would have been foolish not to take advantage of having someone like Moen in their backyard.
“Travis is a good person,” Leslie said. “Very humble. If you talk to him, you wouldn’t have any idea he’s a Stanley Cup winner and has been so successful. It’s the details that he brings to the game that he had to abide by as a player as well, and make his living. And the fact that you’ve got a guy with some experience and cache as a former NHL player and Stanley Cup winner. I’m extremely excited about it.”
That experience is something Moen can bring as players pick his brain on their path to the professional ranks.
“I’ve kind of been through every situation when it comes to hockey at the pro level,” Moen said. “I’m trying to teach kids, and I’m obviously telling stories of my past experiences, what worked for me, what didn’t work for me. Trying to make sure these kids understand what type of player they are, what kind of role they’re going to have moving forward, all that kind of stuff. Like I said, I’ve been through it all, so I’m definitely, I’m there for the kids if they need to talk and throw some stuff by me. I’m definitely willing to help them out with that.”
Moen has also been involved as an owner and co-founder of Swift Hockey Co., training hockey players with fellow Broncos Assistant Coach Regan Darby.
The two bring that working relationship to the Broncos under DeSilva.
“We’ve worked well together,” Darby said.” It’s been a good fit.”
That connection will be big as the Broncos put together the largest coaching staff they’ve had in recent history.
“It’s been awesome,” Moen said. “Dean’s great, smart, really smart hockey guy. Obviously, I know Regan really well. Roshen (Jaswal) is a new coach coming in but seems like he knows what he’s talking about. I think we’ve got a really good group. We all get along. I think that’s the first step is as coaches. We’re kind of on the same page on how we want our team to play. It’s been a lot of fun so far, and hopefully we’re gonna have a young group, but get our kids buying into the systems that we’re preaching and get them playing the right way. We’re gonna have a good year.”
Travis Moen when serving as an assistant coach with the Home Hardware Legionnaires. (Photo by Shawn Mullin)
With the likelihood that Moen’s son will make the Broncos roster this year, it’s another step they take together. This isn’t going to be the first time that father has been coaching son. It will be the highest level where they’ve worked in those roles.
“It’s obviously going to be something we have to work on,” Moen said. “But I’ve always had this kind of relationship with Carter on the bench, where I kind of let him just be his own player. We have other coaches who can make sure that they’re talking to him. He probably doesn’t want to hear the same thing from his dad all the time. He’s his own player, and he works hard, and he’s obviously going to be a young guy. He’s going to be in and out of the lineup, and he’s got to earn his opportunity. That’s exactly what you would want for a 16-year-old.”
The Moens start their WHL journey together this season.
Their exhibition schedule wraps up against the Wheat Kings on Friday in Brandon and Saturday in Virden.