Wiseman Eager to Return to Northeast for Pro Coaching Debut
Jul 24, 2024New Thunderbirds assistant coach Chad Wiseman comes to Springfield following six seasons on the coaching staff of the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm. Wiseman served as the head coach in each of the past two seasons.
Wiseman played 603 AHL games in a professional career that spanned 14 seasons. He posted a career-high 59 points as a member of the Springfield Falcons in 2009-10.
He recently had a chance during St. Louis Blues development camp to sit down with Ryan Smith, the “Voice of the T-Birds,” to discuss the new opportunity with the Thunderbirds.
Questions and answers have occasionally been edited for clarity.
RS: When (Thunderbirds General Manager) Kevin Maxwell and (Head Coach) Steve Konowalchuk approached you about the opportunity to join Springfield’s coaching staff. What drew you most to the Thunderbirds and the St. Louis Blues organization as your first chance to coach professionally?
CW: I enjoyed my conversations early on with Kevin and then had the opportunity to speak with Steve, and I think there was a big selling point there in being a part of something new and something special with a whole new staff. It also brought an opportunity to work again with (defenseman) Michael Buchinger, who I have been coaching for the last four years (in Guelph) and continuing with him in his development. My conversations with Steve were fantastic. We spoke for hours on the phone multiple times over a few days. We had a great connection there. We share similar philosophies; both of us are open-minded to a lot of different new ideas, and I think it was a great fit.
RS: What makes Steve the right leader for this group, and what makes him a great fit for you to join his staff?
CW: He’s got a calm demeanor about him; he’s well-respected. I know him from Colorado through (Avalanche Director of Player Development) Brian Willsie. The longevity of his career, the respect he earned as an athlete, and his experiences as a player and coach make me excited to work with him.
RS: Much of your American Hockey League career was in the Northeast, including one season in Springfield (in 2009-10). What are some of your memories of playing in Springfield, both for and against them, and how excited are you to get reacquainted with these Atlantic Division rivalries?
CW: I was fortunate to play in Springfield, and honestly, I loved the (MassMutual Center) even before the renovations. I had a lot of success there as an athlete, and when I had an opportunity to play there, I had a strong season. I loved the environment and was treated really well. I loved the area, and I’m familiar with the area, having also played for three years in Hartford. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be back there now as a coach.
RS: I have to imagine that familiarity was a good selling point for you as well.
CW: It’s nice, for sure. I spent three years in Hartford, just a half-hour down the road, so I know that area well, too, and will probably look to live somewhere in between (Springfield) and Hartford. I’m excited to get out there and get the season started, find a place, and get my feet wet while coaching pro hockey.
RS: I think for many young players who are late draft selections or undrafted prospects, your career could be viewed as a great testimonial. You had to work hard and stand out to earn your shot in the NHL, which you did. It is a different era for players now, but what lessons could you take from when you were a developing player and impart to today’s Blues prospects?
CW: As an (OHL) coach for the last six years, we talked with players about being drafted, not being drafted, where you’re drafted. Really, once you are drafted, it truly means nothing, and it’s about the development and the process over the next three to four or five years. It’s a mental game to be able to stay with it and to trust that process that you’re going to get that opportunity. Things are not always going to go your way. You’re going to hit turbulence or have adversity - how do you prepare for that and battle through that? That could be in the American League - it could be an opportunity to get different situational playing time, whether it’s power play, penalty kill, more 5-on-5 time. I can draw from my experience as a player, and it wasn’t always easy. I had my fair share of injuries, got called up and didn’t play games, then sent back down. You have to find a way to reset your mind when you are (in the NHL) and go back down (to the AHL). You have to refocus and go back to the process that got you there. Hopefully, players can draw on my experiences, and I’m happy to share those with them.
RS: From your time at the OHL level with the Guelph Storm as both an associate and a head coach, how much do you think working with young players prepared you to leap into coaching professionally?
CW: It was a good leadup to this opportunity. You learn how to deal with different problems with teenagers, whether it’s away from the rink or at the rink. You deal with adversity they have on the ice and off the ice. It was an opportunity to learn a different side of the game in junior hockey. You wear a lot more hats (as a coach) in junior hockey and are involved in a lot more things. Taking that experience and transitioning to pro hockey, I don’t think it will be a big adjustment. Working with some of the players I previously coached is also a nice perk.
RS: Going back to Michael Buchinger - he’s a player that fans in Springfield have not seen in a game yet. With lots of roster turnover forthcoming, it will open the door for young players like him to get an opportunity. What kinds of things can Thunderbirds fans look for in Buchinger’s game?
CW: He’s got great feet. He can skate himself out of a lot of situations with his skating; it’s a huge asset. He passes the puck like a pro, shoots the puck like a pro, and processes information really well and quickly. He can run a power play, and he has a lot of qualities and assets that are going to make him a fun player to watch for the fans in Springfield and, hopefully, in St. Louis at some point.
RS: Last thing - what would be your message and the coaching staff’s message to the fanbase? The way last season ended left a bit of a bad taste in people’s mouths, and it seems fans are excited for a fresh start from the coaching perspective. What can they expect from your group?
CW: As we’re working through the process of our first week on the ice and working in this environment, there seems to be really good chemistry between us. One thing I can say is that we will be a hard-working team that competes. Development is a huge thing, and making sure our players are getting what they need every day on the ice. We’re excited to work together and to be part of the process here with the players and the group.