The dominos fell as they were supposed to by many accounts.
Scott Barney departed the Humboldt Broncos for the Ontario Hockey League, which led to Humboldt local and Broncos legend Brayden Klimosko jumping into his job. Thus, the North Stars head coach and general manager role was vacated in favour of Battlefords local Garry Childerhose.
Those involved in organizational management will tell you that it is never ‘that simple,’ but from the outside looking in, it seems it all went as it was meant to.
Of that trio, the last (but not least) to get the move was Childerhose, and for the 34-year-old former SJHL player and long-time league assistant, it’s all about gratitude and building trust.
“It’s been a positive transition so far,” he says, “I’m fortunate to do what I love for a living.
“I am coaching because I love the game and (I want to work) with players who share that same passion and love for the game. We need to build relationships and trust with the players and help them get to the next level to achieve their academic and athletic goals.”
Childerhose, who is from Battleford, SK specifically, played in 136 games for the Melfort Mustangs between 2007 and 2010, and his skill, work ethic and versatility earned him a spot at the State University of New York at Geneseo in NCAA Division III.
Upon graduation in 2014, he moved to northern Manitoba to assist Mike Reagan and the Flin Flon Bombers, a post he held until 2019. He was briefly the head coach and GM of the Kindersley Klippers before stepping down for personal reasons. He ultimately took the assistant coaching job with his hometown team under Klimosko ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.
After a championship and Centennial Cup silver medal, it is ‘Chilly’s’ time to take the reins for the black and silver.
“The Battlefords is a big-time hockey community and always has been,” he says.
“Year after year, we receive excellent fan and community support. Players are active in the community and commonly have daily conversations about the season with fans in town. The people here are hardworking and down to earth, and that’s what they like to see from their North Stars.”
Childerhose is known as one of the warmest, most genuine people in the league, but ideally at peace with that quality is fierce competitiveness easily observed during a North Stars game.
When a member of the North Stars has a big chance in a tight game, one can often see Childerhose jumping up and down or demonstrating that he cares about winning as much as any of his players in some other way.
It is little coincidence that the teams Garry has helped coach have won so many and so often: he is simply a winner.
“We want passionate players who love the game,” he says.
“We are looking for motivated players who strive to improve daily and push themselves to achieve their goals. We look for character, competition, hockey sense, and skill. We like our group of returners and will have a good combination of experience and youth.”
The 2024-25 season will be his 10th season as a coach but his first real test as the man holding the reigns. While it will still need to be proven, the expectation is that his transition will be seamless given his track record and the mentorship he has received from two of the best the SJHL has ever seen in Reagan and Klimosko.
