Part of being a hockey player is getting back up as fast as possible whenever your knocked down / fall down. Its not just a sign of your own perseverance but its part of expectation of those around you that expect you to always battle and attempt to overcome adversity no matter what it may be. It could be killing a penalty, it could be an injury / penalty that forces your team to make due without a player or two for the rest of the game, or just about any other reason you can think of. I doubt many players on the 2011-12 Elks Boys team thought they’d have to finish their season without local legend Tony Sarsland on their bench, but that is precisely what happened. Without going too much into the details of Sarsland’s departure it was quick and unexpected but it dealt with him an alleged incident involving Sophomore (the Elks’ leading scorer ) Andrew Zerban. It was an unfortunate end of what has been one of the most successful careers in Minnesota High School hockey history, but more on that later. Roberts’ now must re-focus and possibly re-shape this program which has been of the more dominant hockey teams in the state for nearly 15 years.
Will Roberts’ be able to live up to the high standards Elks’ fans have for their team?
Sure, it isn’t Edina or Duluth East, or Hill-Murray but if there is a second tier of quality programs Elk River is right there along with other clubs like Moorhead, Blaine, Grand Rapids, White Bear Lake and Holy Angels. Programs that can be among the elite but are always fairly strong and can surprise elite teams if they’re not playing at their best. Gordie Roberts arrives with the impressive credentials of being a former NHL’er, NHL scout and most recently a college coach. But can Roberts’ live up to the high expectations of fans from a hockey mad community like Elk River?
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Make no mistake, Gordie Roberts has big shoes to fill
While I have little doubt there will be lots of interest and curiosity as Roberts’ takes his place behind Elk River’s bench. Yet, the honeymoon will be short if he cannot at least replicate Tony Sarsland’s impressive record. Roberts’ certainly has an impressive resume, but will that translate to success will be an interesting storyline next season. Elk River Area High School Athletic Director Mike Cunningham certainly brought some buzz with the move but I can tell you as an Elk River-native unless Roberts’ keeps the Elks amongst the upper tier of hockey programs it won’t matter one bit that he’s a former NHL’er.
Tony Sarsland was my coach, and I have nothing but good things to say about him. Whenever I mention I’m from Elk River people ask me about him; and almost inevitably the first comment they make is he yells a lot. Yes, he does, but what I ask them is if they have listened to what he’s actually yelling. He’s yelling instructions, he’s trying to be another set of eyes on the ice. Most coaches stand stoically behind their bench and seldom seem to talk. That was never Sarsland’s style. He’s going to help as much as he can. His expectations were pretty simple. Give it 100% every shift, do as you’re told and stay disciplined. If you do those things you never got into his doghouse. Yet if you deviated you were going to hear about it.
I can say without question I never worked harder for any other coach than I did for Tony Sarsland. When you have a coach with his intensity behind you, you can’t help but want to go through the wall for him. Elk River teams often did not feature the most skilled players, but few teams could outwork the Elks and their blue collar, grinding style became a Sarsland trademark. Yet the results speak for themselves. Sarsland is one of the winningest coaches in Minnesota high school hockey history with 588 victories; most of them with Elk River, and having coached numerous players that have gone on to play Division I and Division III hockey as well as major junior in Canada including three that have played in the National Hockey League (Dan Hinote, Paul Martin, and Nate Prosser). In his tenure with the Elks, Sarsland led the team to six state tournament appearances which included the school’s state Class ‘AA’ title in 2001. Needless to say, it will be pretty difficult for anyone to duplicate that record.
Roberts’ most recent coaching stint was with Hamline University Men’s team, where he coached their defenseman. If Elk River does have a trend is in developing quality defenseman. Yet, why such a high profile hire? The former North Stars defenseman cited the strong tradition of quality hockey in Elk River, but also the efforts of Athletic Director Cunningham as well as ERAHS principal Terry Bizal. But could this be a strong shot across the bow for Elk River to host Hockey Day in Minnesota in 2014? The ‘Pit’ near Handke Elementary School certainly provides one of the most nostalgic outdoor hockey settings in the state, and Elk River’s tradition certainly should give it a good chance even without Gordie Roberts’ hiring but I have no doubt it will add a little icing to the cake.
Roberts played in the NHL for 15 years with the Hartford Whalers (where he got his start in 1975 in the World Hockey Association), Minnesota, St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins where he won a cup in 1991 ironically against the North Stars. The defenseman amassed 61 goals, 420 points and 1,582 penalty minutes in 1097 games. The Detroit, Michigan-native also spent time as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes as recently as 1998 before becoming Hamline’s assistant coach in charge of defensemen. Will Roberts’ name cause a few more hockey families to move to Elk River? Perhaps, especially if he keeps the program winning.
I am sad to see the Sarsland era come to an end, but I guess it was going to end at some point regardless. His unflinching style grated on some people, but to the players and people who know him know he demands just as much out of himself as he does anyone else. The State of Hockey News wishes Tony Sarsland all the best in whatever retirement or anything else comes his way.
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