“One more time, gentlemen. With feeling!”

Coach Joe Voytechek would say that several times at the end of every hockey practice. I can see him leaning against the boards near the penalty box in the Camrose arena… his whistle in one hand, note book in the other. He wore a red jacket and vintage skates. It was during the last minutes of practice that Joe would ask us to do one more lap. Inevitably we did five or six until he’d seen one with enough “feeling”. And then he’d smile.

His practices were hard work. I’ve never been in better shape.

Joe coached me during the 1977-78 hockey season when I attended college in Camrose, Alberta and played for the Vikings.

By the time I met Joe, he was already a legend in Camrose having played for the Camrose Maroons (he was my dad’s hero when he went to school there) as well as coaching the 1974-75 Vikings to the Canadian Collegiate championship.

I don’t remember Joe spending much time in the dressing room, but when he was there he said things that were memorable. Memorable then, and maybe even more so now.

“Kopesetic, gentlemen. Kopesetic.” When he said this we knew that he was impressed by what he’d seen, and there was something about his manner that made me want to impress him.

He walked into the dressing room one time just as someone cursed loudly. He just kept walking but said, “There may be no ladies in this room but there might be some gentlemen.” He didn’t need to do or say anything more.

During the singing of the national anthem prior to each game it was Joe’s expectation that we stand completely still with our eyes on the flag. We did not move until the last strains of O’Canada were done. In some cases, when the organist or singer would drag the song out, we would be standing still on the blue line long after the other team had put on their helmets, tapped their goalie’s pads and skated to center ice for the opening face-off! I’ve not forgotten that and still find it hard to watch teams shuffle, spit, scratch or skate away before the anthem is over.

During a game late in the season I received my first ever 10-minute misconduct. Frustrated, I’d kicked the puck down the ice after the whistle. The referee took offence. To make matters worse, because it happened during the last 10 minutes of the game, the rules were such that I would have to sit out the next game as well. I was devastated and worried most that Joe would think less of me. Joe’s conversation with me after the game was calm, kind, and understanding. His big arm on my shoulder also spoke volumes.

Just over twenty years after my year with Joe and the Vikings I was working as a junior high school principal in Fort St. John. One morning, after a conversation with a student in my office, I thought of Joe. I thought of him and smiled because I realized that yet again I had used the word “kopesetic”. In fact, I thought of how many of his words and mannerisms had been right there in the back of my mind during conversations with students and staff. I decided to phone him.

I picked up the phone and dialed right away so that I wouldn’t be distracted by the many goings-on in a junior high school. Joe answered on the first ring. I told him it was Larry Espe calling. I could hear the smile in his voice when he said, “How are you doing, Esper*!”

I went on the tell him that he’d had a powerful effect on me as a coach and person. I told him that when he’d asked me to work at his hockey school in Bashaw, Alberta in the early 80’s I’d been flattered to no end. I told him that I was using his words and sayings on a daily basis, and that I still didn’t move a muscle until the anthem was over. I think I may have embarrassed him a bit but I also believe he appreciated the call.

I saw him only once since then for a brief visit while standing in his Camrose driveway.

Joe Voytechek, a consummate coach and gentleman, passed away at age 96 on January 12. My thoughts are with his sons (and my former Viking teammates), Wes and Jim and their family. Click to read Joe’s obituary…

 

*  Joe called me “Esper”. I don’t remember anyone else calling me that.