Larson named Flying Aces head coach
05/01/2010, 1:57pm (CDT)
By Nick Clark/MnJHL Director of Media Relations
At home inside a rink, Craig Larson has found one to call his own.
A self-described scouting nut, Larson has been handed the head coaching duties of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League’s Minnesota Flying Aces.
Larson coached the Flying Aces for the last few weeks of the 2009-10 season, and he will head into the 2010-11 campaign with the type of know-how Minnesota was looking for.
“Craig’s experience and positive attitude will be a valuable assets to the 2010-2011 season,” said Flying Aces co-owner Deb Holthaus. “We look forward to the exciting season.”
For Larson, he’s looking forward to getting back in the rink. Though, in retrospect, he never really left.
Two years ago, Larson spent the majority to the second half of the year working with Granite City of the MnJHL, coming on in December and working though the Lumberjacks appearance in the Tier III Junior A National Tournament.
Last season, before joining the Flying Aces, he was working as a scout for the Alexandria Blizzard of the North American Hockey League, as well as scouting for the International Scouting Service, which ranks prospective professional players for the National Hockey League draft.
“I’ve done a lot of scouting, and that is what I love to do,” said Larson. “My philosophy in scouting is informing kids of their options and creating a place for that player. Scouting is going out and getting the best players you can get and develop. That is the biggest thing – we want kids that want to play the game and are in it to keep playing hockey.”
Now, he’ll turn his attention to finding players who want to do that in the MnJHL. And according to Larson, there are plenty out there.
“A lot of kids get passed over for the North American League, and think they are done,” Larson said. “That is the furthest thing form the truth. My job is to inform them and educate them on this league, and what it offers, which is a good brand of hockey and an excellent platform to continue to develop as a player.”
That education process has started now for Larson, who is preparing for his teams open tryout camp, which will be held July 31 and Aug. 1 at the M.A.C. in St. Cloud.
Officially, he got his start with the Flying Aces late this past season. But on the verge of putting together what will be his first actual team in Little Falls, Larson wants to get started with the only way he knows how.
“I’m out scouting right now,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do, but we have great place to offer kids to come and play. Both [Flying Aces owners] John and Deb Holthaus are extremely passionate. They care a lot about the kids, and they care a lot about the league. They want to see the kids from our league do well, and I want the same.”
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