Oct 30, 2014 | sbogart | 532 views
Bill Batten: The Coach
I had the pleasure of playing for Bill Batten when I wan an Atom! Bill always stressed the fundamentals of hockey...passing, shooting and skating! Those haven't changed, and I try and incorporate them in to my practices today. Bill constantly had us passing and shooting against the boards, and although we sometimes found it boring, it sure did pay off in years to come.
I got to know Bill later as teenager, as I became good friends with his second oldest son Steve. Two things stand out when I think of Bill, first was his old camera, the "Nashikamat" (Bill was the Editor of the Times Advocate). Second was the tournament he arranged for our Atom team to play in, all the way to Exeter New Hampshire. Yes, is was Exeter vs. Exeter! What a great time we had flying to Boston and then playing in the tournament (and being billeted out). I always admired Bill's honesty and integrity, not only at the rink, but also in everyday life. It is an honour to coach in the Bill Batten Memorial Hockey Tournament and remember the good ole' days when all that mattered was playing hockey and getting a "slushie" after the game. Good Luck Sabres, and let's have some fun!