EGR's Newton returns to rink after early recovery from double lung transplant

KALAMAZOO – When it comes to hockey, JD Kaleward has a different challenge than most high school coaches.

His Kalamazoo Eagles team is a six-school cooperative: Richland Gull Lake, Parchment, Vicksburg, Plainwell, Kalamazoo Christian and Paw Paw.

That doesn't matter to Kaleward. Kaleward has more than 30 years of coaching experience in integrating players into families.

“In the locker room, I sit by my linemates,” Gull Lake senior forward Carter Dominowski said. “My lines are from Vicksburg and from Gull Lake.

“It's all about team bonding, spending time together and having fun. We have a team dinner every Tuesday (at The Nest at Wings Event Center, where the Eagles practice). ”

Caleward moved from assistant coach to head coach of the Eagles after Matt Kruzic retired after last season. The team has bounced back from a 1-3 start this winter to reach 8-7 with eight games remaining before the start of the MHSAA Tournament.

“JD was the perfect replacement for many reasons, including his thorough preparation, practice planning and management skills,” Krujic said. “But most of all, I've seen him positively impact 100 percent of young men and hockey players in particular.”

Gull Lake is the sponsoring school and has nine of the 23 players competing.

“It’s a challenge,” Kalewad said of bringing the players together. “We work together and practice in the preseason to bond and make sure we’re playing for each other.”

The veteran coach has played about 1,000 high school hockey games in his skates. Add in his 170 games as a lacrosse coach and he surpassed that milestone total.

Coaching across multiple online games

Caleward began his coaching career with Art Misias in KOHA Youth Hockey and moved to Portage Northern in 1986 when Misias took the head coaching job. Five years later, when Misias retired, he took over the coaching reins at Northern.

Caleward expanded his coaching experience, serving as Northern's assistant boys lacrosse coach for three years before being named head coach in 2016.

Caleward said when comparing hockey and lacrosse, field sports are a little more difficult to coach because of the numbers.

“They're both chess games, and they're both very fluid,” he says. “We have 10 (players) in lacrosse instead of six, but it's also easy to hide some of the weaker kids in lacrosse.”

Caleward has had more success in lacrosse, reaching the MHSAA Division 2 quarterfinals three times and winning the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference three times in the past five years.

Caleward said he enjoys coaching both sports and there are some common elements, especially on the defensive side.

“In hockey, you have to keep your head turning and always be aware of your surroundings,” he said. “It's the same in lacrosse. You always want to make one more pass.”

When it came to hockey practices in particular, coaches were quick to admit that they “stole” practices from other programs to coach their players.

“That's how you learn,” he said, naming the drill after a fellow former coach. “(Portage Central’s) Jim Murray practices. (Kalamazoo Wings) Mark Reed drills, (Western Michigan University) Bill Wilkinson drills, (K-Wings) Ken Hitchcock drills. , (Fox Motors AAA U16) Travis Richards Drill.”

Learn more than hockey

Assistant coach Ken Rogers said Caleward not only teaches hockey techniques, but also life skills.

“These kids aren't going to be NHL players coming out of high school, so we're trying to develop some responsibility, some accountability, what it's like to be on your own,” Rodgers said. “We have a lot of seniors and they’re going to be away from home next year.

“For most of them, it's a big step in life. What we're trying to do with hockey is instill those life lessons. As a member of a hockey team, when you get a job and become a good employee. will face these challenges.”

Caleward, who is on the ice with the team every day except Sunday, said the Eagles will play 25 games of the season and the MHSAA playoffs in the tournament.

“I enjoy coaching,” he said. “We're not here for you to try to be the next Sidney Crosby, the next pro. We're here for you to have a good high school experience, be competitive and have fun. Masu.

“I really value life lessons. I have a very old-fashioned way of thinking: manners, how to behave in public, how to address each other.”

Gull Lake senior defenseman Evan Cales praises that leadership.

“He taught me to make wise decisions,” Kares said. “He's developed the way I think about hockey and the way I play. He's really introduced me to the physical side. I'm not there yet, but I'm working on it. .”

Forward Hank Livingston, another Gull Lake senior, added, “He's always pushing our team to be the best players and the best young men we can be.” He's always trying to help everyone. ”

Other Gull Lake players include Owen Anderson, Joey Blondeer, Henry Ladmar, Ryan Rocco, Henry Wojess and Jacob Wojess. The Vicksburg players are Aidin Garza, Blaine Herson, Cody Klesko and Grant Stopper, and the two Paw Paw players are Colton Gronau and Caleb Ranger.

Kalamazoo Christian players are Isaac Riggs, Matthew Lawler, Ryan Lawler and Ali Wilkinson. Comstock's only player is Brody Woolsey. Ryan Baranoski and Carter Monette are from Plainwell and Kayden Hailey is from Parchment.

One of the downsides to coaching hockey, Carewad said, is the dwindling number of players.

The South Central Michigan Hockey League is down to six teams, with four teams other than the Eagles being co-ops: Capital City Capitals (Lansing), Eastside Stars (East Lansing), Kalamazoo United and Portage. Matawan is the only team not made up of players from multiple schools.

“That's the sad thing about hockey,” Caleward said. “It's hard to grow a sport with money. I like to joke that it costs $6 a minute (to rent ice).”

Pam Shebest was a sportswriter for the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985 to 2009, after working part-time at the Gazette for 11 years while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. You can contact her at: pamkzoo@aol.com Includes story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren counties.

photograph (Top) Kalamazoo Eagles coach JD Caleward talks strategy with Gull Lake seniors (from left) Hank Livingston, Evan Calles and Carter Dominowski. (2) Caleward and his Portage Northern lacrosse team received the Matt Thrasher Trophy in 2019 from then-Portage Central Athletic Director Joe Wallace (speaking into microphone). (3) Eagles assistant coach Ken Rogers. (4) Kaleward is standing and coaching the Eagles hockey team. (Top photo and headshot by Pam Shebest. Lacrosse and hockey game photos courtesy of JD Kalleward.)