Fox won a Challenge Cup in his debut season and his team were finalists in the recent EIHL Series playoffs.
It was during this last campaign that Jason Hewitt, also a full-fledged coach, played for him and had the opportunity to assess his style.
And he found Fox’s style mirrored Matsos, who led the Steelers to a League Championship in 2007-8 and did better with a brace – the League Title and the Playoff Championship – the following season.
The 2008-9 season team lost just three games in regulation time.
Hewitt’s teammates at this time included current Manchester Storm coach Ryan Finnerty, the Steelers and British skipper Jonathan Phillips, Steeler Robert Dowd and luminaries like Ashley Tait,
Joey Talbot, Rod Sarich, Jody Lehman and Jeff Legue.
“Foxy, well, I thought he was awesome,” said Hewitt, who was back in a Steelers jersey for the first time in five years.
“He’s an honest guy, if you make a mistake he will let you know, we did a lot of videos where he pointed out where you could have done better and things you did well too.
“That’s all you can ask for, and when he gives you the opportunity it’s up to you to take it. I played on a regular line, I played on the power play and on the penalty kill, so I knew, not to be arrogant, that as long as I had the chance, I felt confident that I could do it.
“I’ve had chances and games that could have worked better, but overall I’m pretty happy with the demonstration I gave of myself. I think he gave everything a chance. the world.”
Hewitt enjoyed working with him saying, “He was probably the most comparable to Matty (Matsos; 2006-10 Steelers coach) to me, he had a good relationship with the players.
“The way he dealt with people was pretty relaxed, there were open conversations, that was one of Matty’s great skills. He wasn’t aloof with the players,” said Hewitt, who is a coach. leader of the Pirates of Hull since 2016.
“Obviously hockey is more technical now than it has ever been. The video every other day was good it opened my eyes and I was happy to be a part of it. “
The now 47-year-old Canadian Matsos, former assistant coach of Great Britain, now leads the bench for a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, the Hamilton Bulldogs.
He played for them before trying his luck with the Belfast Giants, the Cardiff Devils and then training in Sheffield.
American Fox, two years his junior, came to the Steelers from Medvescak Zagreb, Croatia.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.thestar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-06-17 09:55:22
