STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

Senior B Timbermen name Couling new head coach for President’s Cup season

Dec 12, 2017 | 12:30 PM

NANAIMO — The Senior B Timbermen won’t play a regular season lacrosse game in 2018 until April, but preparations are well underway for the President’s Cup.
 
The Tmen will host the Canadian Senior B championship from August 26 to September 2 at Frank Crane Arena.
 
With such a high profile event coming there will be some changes made to ensure Nanaimo is a legitimate contender for the cup.
 
On of the first changes is behind the bench where Kyle Couling will take over as the head coach from Mike Maughan.
 
As a player Couling was a stalwart defender in Junior, Senior, and the National Lacrosse League.
 
As a coach he’s had stints as a head coach in Junior A and an assistant with the Senior B Timbermen.
 
Couling knows he has a rare opportunity as the coach of a team that has a guaranteed shot at a national title.
 
He knows the value of strong defensive play as a Mann Cup champion and veteran of over 200 professional and senior level games.
 
The style Couling wants to play should be entertaining for lacrosse fans in Nanaimo.
 
“Tempo is going to be one of the keys that I’m going to focus on,” said Couling. “Keeping a steady pace and pressure on the ball, pressure up the floor. We’ve got some systems we’ve been working on that I’ve played in the past that I’d like to implement.”
 
Couling credits team president Shawn Swanson for keeping the core players together in the offseason, even if it doesn’t involve lacrosse specific training.
 
“We’ve got some ball hockey sessions and some fun stuff going on. As players come on board we’ll start looking at fitness fairly soon. We might have a fitness test coming up in January to see where everybody’s at and baseline them,” said Couling.
 
There will be interest from players all across Canada to join the Timbermen in pursuit of the President’s Cup but Couling wants the focus to remain on local talent.
 
With the last Nanaimo President’s Cup win coming in 1969 the Timbermen will be on the lookout for the best players to bring the championship back to the Harbour City.
 
Simon Stocks, who appeared in 11 games for the Tmen last season, will join Couling as an assistant coach.
 
The plan is to add another assistant who’s more offensive minded in the near future.
 
Couling says he’s been talking to a few candidates already, and it comes down to finding the person who has the lacrosse knowledge and shares the team ideals and philosophy.
 
On a personal note winning a President’s Cup would be a proud moment for Couling, one that he’d like to share with the entire community.
 
“I’m not playing anymore but this is the next best thing I can do, and I’d love to win one here. To bring that to the city, to the community of lacrosse, and all the supporters who have been there for our team for so long.”
 
 
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
 
On twitter: @danmarshall77