Quiet. Todd Ewen paces back and forth behind the bench, coffee in hand.
The burly Saint Louis University men’s club hockey head coach occasionally leans over and mutters something to one of his assistant coaches. His Billikens are struggling on the ice against the University of Missouri Tigers, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from his facial expression. Ewen’s poker face is exquisite because deep down, he may be frustrated with his team, but he never lets anger show through.
Junior forward Eric Wendt sums up Ewen’s demeanor on the bench. “Todd is always calm and collected. He will rarely show frustration on the bench,” he recalls.After the game, Ewen retains his calm even as he addresses his team, following a disappointing 3-1 homecoming loss to the Tigers.
Wendt is confident that Ewen’s biggest pet peeve is when players do not play as a unit together, and that’s just what coach Ewen mentions afterwards.
“You either have the chemistry, or you don’t,” Ewen says in the locker room. “And right now, [there is] absolutely none.” Ewen remains mild while discussing his team’s woes, and he manages to crack a smile, maybe even a smirk of frustration.
Ewen stands at an imposing 6 ft 3, but once he starts talking about hockey, he displays a part of him more notable than his size: passion. His passion, his pure love for the game of hockey, is evident from the very start of any discussion with him about the subject.
Whether it’s the contrast in styles between North American players and European players, his days in the NHL, where he hoisted Lord Stanley’s cup and knocked out a player in a fight with just one punch, or how the game has changed since he was lacing ‘em up, it is obvious that Coach Ewen holds the game of hockey close to his heart.
Ewen did have some amazing moments during his tenure in the NHL, and he played an important role on some very special teams with some legendary players. When asked about his fondest memories from his playing days, Ewen was hard pressed to come up with an answer The list of answers he gave is enough to make any hockey player green with envy.
His selection by the Edmonton Oilers with the 168th overall pick in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft was the first thing that came to his mind.
Ewen would go on to live a journey-man’s career while he made stops to play for the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and San Jose Sharks. Once, he was called up from the minors during a playoff run, and he had the opportunity to skate alongside “The Great One” himself, Wayne Gretzky.
Next up was winning the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup is one of the most prestigious and coveted trophies in any sport. Todd even called it “the Holy Grail.” He won the Cup during the 1992-93 season with the Montreal Canadiens, a team that featured superstars Patrick Roy and Kirk Muller. Winning Lord Stanley’s Cup is an extremely rare feat. The list goes on of famous, enormously talented players who have never had the honor of lifting it. Ewen’s name is not featured on that infamous list.
“I’m so blessed it’s stupid,” Ewen said, looking back on his achievements in amazement and wonder.
Ewen’s role in hockey is often labeled as an enforcer, but that was not the role that he had in mind as a player. He was slotted into the spot when he was a teenager, playing against guys in their early 20s. They would try to pick on the new kid, and he would defeat them, which led to his coach making him a bruiser, despite his reservations about the duty.
Whenever he went up a level, he always seemed to best someone in a fight, so he became known for that over time.
He is very honest about the team, pulling no punches about what they should be able to do–regionals–and what is preventing them from attaining their goals–a lack of teamwork and heart. He has experienced the game of hockey at its highest level and has skated to its highest peak. Coach Ewen will continue to guide the team, imparting upon them the knowledge that he has gained through a lifetime in hockey.
In the end, however, he hopes that his players will execute and make the right decisions, because there is only so much that he can do. The rest is up to them.
All he does is calmly watch from the bench, knowing he has done all he can do to prepare them.
