'Every day I learn something' : Julien growing as a coach with Grand Rapids

Photo Credit : Grand Rapids Griffins/Nicolas Carrillo

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - At the end of the 2022-23 season, the Grand Rapids Griffins had a complete changeover when it was announced Head Coach Ben Simon, assistant coaches Matt Macdonald and Todd Krygier, and goaltending development coach Brian Mahoney-Wilson would not be given contract extensions. Assistant Coach Mike Knuble left the organization later in the offseason.

At the beginning of June, Dan Watson was named the 12th head coach in the history of the Griffins. Almost two weeks later, Stephane Julien and former Grand Rapids Captain Brian Lashoff joined the staff as assistant coaches.

Before coming to Grand Rapids, Julien spent 11 seasons coaching the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL. His last three seasons with the organization were spent pulling double duty as Head Coach and General Manager.

In January 2024, I sat down with Julien to discuss his transition from Juniors to the Pros.

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Elaine Shircliff: How is the transition going for you?

Steph Julien: Very nice. Danny gave me the opportunity to help with the special teams. It helps a lot when the head coach gives you some really important things to do with the team like take care of the power play. Which is huge in hockey. So, the transition was good with the young guys. It went very smooth. You know, my background as a junior coach helped a lot with the transition on that. And with the older guys in the team.

In a way it takes time to get the confidence of them but after two or three weeks things were rolling quite better, nice. So far, I’m very happy the transition and things are going pretty well. 

EGS: Coach Watson said to me when he was in the ECHL he had to wear a lot of different hats and do things more than just coach. Did you have to do the same thing in the QMJHL? 

SJ: Yeah, actually, I was a GM and coach. In Juniors, you have to take care also of school, billets. So hockey takes probably 40-50% of your job. The rest is more GM stuff.

So, it's one thing to turn pro. I want to do is do more hockey. And to be honest with you, I do a lot of hockey right now and focusing on the power play. 

I love working with the young guys. I enjoy it so far. It's different than Junior, but beyond that, I don't regret my choice and really enjoy every day with the team.

EGS: Do you think being allowed to just focus on coaching has been able to elevate you as a coach?

SJ: Well, I've been with Hockey Canada a lot as a coach and the one thing I like about that is you learn from other coach. And to come here with Dan, who has a lot of experience for hockey and Brian played many years regularly. For me, I learn every day. If you don't do that as a coach, if you don't want to learn from other coach, your job is over.

I mean, for me, it's not about being selfish. It's about learning and to get better.

Every day I get better.

Even the players, you know, as a pro team American League, NHL, guys they're mature. I'm open minded. So, every day I learn something. I can honestly say I'm gonna be a better coach. That’s what it's all about.

EGS: What kind of things have you learned since you've been at the pro level?

SJ: Well, I think the conversation you know, and especially in the American League there's a big gap between the veteran and the young guys. There's one thing Dan teach me from the day I've been here: it's to be calm. 

You know, sometime in junior you want to be a bit more strict with the guys you know. I felt like a dad with a young son.

But here, I know what's good time or bad time. The discussion we have with veterans or young guys are very natural. 

For me as a coach, to keep your calm on the bench and day to day. It's a lot of games, a lot of practice. 

But you know that the pro level versus Junior, it's all about communication. I think we learn a lot from that.

EGS: And what is it that you personally bring to the team that you think adds add something to the Griffins? 

SJ: Well, from a young guy perspective, all those years I coached as a junior helps a lot with the young guys. I think it’s going very smooth right now. One thing they want from us is for those young guys to move up in the NHL. So, I think my background helps a lot.

And I think what I bring the most is the power play and it’s always been very good. In Junior, as a coach, our team always did very well. I know it will be a kind of a process for our power play. We are doing very well right now. But day to day, I think to move up and get our team better than that. So far we're a success.

*author’s note : At the time of this interview, the Griffins had one of the better power plays they’ve had in quite some time. With injuries and call-ups to Detroit, Grand Rapids’ power play took a bit of a hit. However, as the season winds down, they are beginning to gel again.

EGS: There are a lot of new faces. How do you feel the chemistry is going between the coaches and between the players?

SJ: Well, I think comes along for the last month and a half. We knew that would be a process. When the season started, we knew you don't change culture on one week or two weeks, it's a process. Dan has a good history in Toledo with a good team culture. I did the same thing in Sherbrooke in Junior. 

We knew from the start with the young guys coming in and the veterans from last year, it will take time. And we felt the last three, four weeks, things really came together. And I think Dan's message went through and we see a difference in practice. We see a difference in games. 

So, I think guys believed in the process from day one. And we can see the chemistry, the steam going along for the last couple of weeks.

EGS: Has there been anything that's pleasantly surprised you about Grand Rapids either the city, the fans, the organization?

SJ: To be honest with you. I like it more than I thought. I do know there will be a lot of games, a lot of practice. You know it's a grinding season. 

The people around are very nice. The organization is very nice. 

Coaching staff, It's very important for me that we get along together, and we have fun because if you're going to office every day for 10 or 11 hours and it's not a good environment, it’s sad. But that's not the case.

Players have been very nice too.

So far I’m enjoying the process.