Babcock eager to return to Saskatoon

Mike Babcock is ready to get to work in the city where his love of sports started.

Babcock, who will arrive in Saskatoon in May as head coach of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team, said he didn’t know what to think when he was offered the job at Christmas.

“We had the whole crew over at Christmas. Dave Hardy called and the bottom line is he asked,” Babcock told the Green Zone on Tuesday when discussing the call he got from the Huskies’ chief athletic officer.

“I got off the phone, we had a good laugh with the family and my wife gave me the Heisman — she didn’t say nothing.”

The new Huskies bench boss eventually warmed up to the idea of returning home where his extended family is.

Calling himself a “transfer coach,” Babcock knows he’s leading the program until it can find a more permanent replacement. His verbal agreement with the Huskies is for two years.

Babcock said he met with the Huskies’ veteran players earlier this week and was going to follow that up by meeting with former head coach Dave Adolph about recruitment.

After that, Babcock said he would meet with every member of the team to try and get up to speed on the program.

He’s ready for the challenge nearly 27 years after leading the University of Lethbridge to a University Cup.

“If you don’t evolve and you don’t change, you’re not working,” Babcock said of how different hockey is since he coached in the university ranks.

Babcock also addressed how he plans to operate after receiving plenty of criticism over the past year for being unnecessarily harsh on players before he was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019.

Some players called Babcock a bully.

“What you’re trying to do is create a climate, an environment of culture, and you can’t win the way I have over my career without having a good culture,” Babcock said.

“You have to own everything you’ve done in your life, and that’s the bottom line.”

Babcock hinted that everywhere he has worked has involved people who know him well offering him the position.

“Something doesn’t pass the smell test,” Babcock said. “Have I ever said anything that I’d love to get back? The reality is that’s true. But I also think in today’s world, this is what takes place.”

No matter the controversy, Babcock is coming home to win hockey games.

“The biggest thing to me is trying to make these players better,” he said.

Babcock’s new job doesn’t start until May, but he’s excited about the prospect of being back home.

“To have this opportunity is really special,” Babcock said. “My sister texted me yesterday and said she’s moving there for the winter to watch a little Dog hockey.”