Four trips to the Mann Cup, including the last one as head coach, will be the stat line that grabs the headlines for outgoing New Westminster Salmonbellies head coach Steve Goodwin.
What should be the primary lead is the passion which he brought to the game.
The New West native confirmed Tuesday that he will not be returning behind the bench after five years as head coach.
Goodwin is relocating to Kelowna, and while maintaining ties in the Royal City, has stepped down as ’Bellies coach.
“I am stepping away. ... I’m moving to Kelowna. It’s more of a lifestyle decision,” noted Goodwin, 53. “I’m going to miss the team but I’m still going to help out if I can.”
The head coach since 2013, Goodwin and general manager Dan Richardson began their joint mission with an eye towards the 2017 Mann Cup.
They got there, but were unable to contain the Peterborough Lakers after taking a 2-0 series lead. The visiting Ontarians prevailed with four straight wins earlier this month to claim the national title.
“(Peterborough) did a good job. They had guys that could score from anywhere on the floor,” said Goodwin. “When it comes down to it, that was our job, to stop them. Sometimes we did, sometimes we didn’t. We were pretty much within a goal every game.”
Getting there took a lot of work and strategizing, with the groundwork beginning in 2013, he said.
“Four years ago, after our first year of coaching, the players were still enjoying a Mann Cup high (from 2010) but we were just a middle-of-the-road team. (Richardson) made some changes based on being in the (2017) Mann Cup, at home. Everything we did was based on being in this Mann Cup.
“Part of our goal was to be there in 2016 and to come back and win it in 2017. We didn’t get there (in 2016) but we came awfullly close to our goal,” said Goodwin.
Although some players indicated after the loss they were retiring, Goodwin said he believes most will return.
“It’s early, because there were a lot of emotions and other things, but talking to them after it seems like a lot of the core group plans on staying together because we feel we have something special here.”
Goodwin said his coaching career, which included four years as an assistant with Bob Salt, benefited from the help of two mentors.
“I have two of them: Bob Salt and Jack Fulton Jr. They were the two, and the only reason I’m coaching is because of those two. They were very influential.
“Jack and Bob coached me for three years in junior; we went to two Minto Cups then. Bob coached me for three years in senior, and I coached with Bob for four years in senior. I spent 10 years with Bob Salt. With Jack, I’ve always phoned up Jack and bounced things off him,” he said.
When Salt was let go by the senior ’Bellies after 2010, Goodwin coached the New West intermediates for two years, before taking over the top job in 2013.
His record as a head coach stands at 51-35-4 in the regular season, and 13-16 over four Western Lacrosse Association playoffs.
Whoever takes over the reins will inherit a strong, committed lineup, Goodwin said.
Richardson agreed.
"Quite frankly, the whole season, up to and including the Mann Cup, I had (Goodwin's departure) in the back of my mind," said Richardson. "I knew of his decision but with what happened I still haven't had a chance to discuss it with (assistant coaches) Russ Heard and Kevin Stewardson. ... We need to have those discussions before we take the next step.
"We're not going to rush through it but I expect we will have some good candidates come forward. We'll want to have someone in place sooner than later to give the players an indication of what direction we're going in. But we have a team that was extremely competitive for a Mann Cup, and we think we can be right back here."
For now, Goodwin is focusing on next week’s move to the Okanagan. But New West will still be home, he said.
“I’m keeping my roots, we’re keeping our house in New West and my name on the office door. ... I’m not gone. I’m still going to be around.”
