After many special years in Winkler, both as a player and a coach, Coltyn Bates announced he'll be heading across the pond, and taking a job as an assistant coach for a professional team, Coventry Blaze in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).
"It hasn't really settled in yet," he says about being referred to as a former coach of the Flyers. "I'm going to be an assistant coach, and I figured it would be a good stepping stone for a young coaching career. My first pro gig."
Spending the last couple of seasons behind the bench of the Flyers, Bates says he learned a lot, and he'll be taking all of that knowledge with him. "I tell people all the time, there's a lot of different things that get you excited when you get your first pro opportunity. In junior, you wear a hundred different hats, from trading players, to drafting, to recruiting for years going across North America, running practices, pre-scout, equipment, current locker room, billeting, marketing, it just never really ends. So, I think when you get to pro and you have people in certain roles to do every single one of those things, I can really dive into hockey. At the same time, I feel like I'm in a sport here now three years later since I got to Winkler, I'm so grateful to have learned all those roles. I've learned what it's like to run a business from top to bottom. You get to literally appreciate everything, from the equipment mangers to the trainers who have families, because at the junior level, a lot of those people are not full time or making a bunch of money. It's been a great opportunity to see what goes into a junior hockey program, and also really appreciate all the roles that go into making junior hockey, especially in Manitoba, work. I'm excited to wear less hats, but at the same time, I think the experience I got to learn from here will be special."
Bates says it was the people around the Flyers that had perhaps the biggest impact on him. "I've learned from some pretty incredible people over the last three years," he says with a smile. "Obviously, Justin Falk, Ryan White, Eric Fehr, guys who've lived the pro game their whole lives, into Matt Melo, who is incredible, as well. I've been fortunate and spoiled to have those guys in my life in my first three years in junior, I think they've really got me ready for the new opportunity."
Coaching hockey at the junior level comes with pressure, and as Bates explained, there's pressure from many different areas, but the professional game is another level, something he's aware of. "It's going to be super different, now you're dealing with men. Some of these guys have played games in the NHL, some guys have been second round picks in the NHL or have come from programs like the University of North Dakota, one of the best hockey programs in the world. They're all over there in different stages, some guys are younger trying to make money while experiencing Europe, while other guys are on the tail end of their careers, but still really, really good pro players, who still want to play because it's all they've ever known. I'm excited to see the difference, I mean, at junior we're dealing with kids between 15 and 20 that you deal with every day, and that's incredible to build relationships and trust in those guys. Now to move on and work with men, guys who have been through different things and have maybe been through ten or fifteen years of playing, I'm just excited to see how I can relate to those guys, and make an impact on them. Ultimately, build relationships and earn their respect."
Heading into the 2025-26 season, Bates says he's not going in completely unaware of what the game is like there, he's leaned on some MJHL friends who just so happened to have walked down that path before him. "I don't think I've done a ton of research, but I've actually been pretty lucky, former Piston Bradley Schoonbaert is actually one of my best friends, and so when he jumped over to Cardiff, which is in the same league last year, I actually got to watch a bit of games when they lost in the finals. Another former Piston, James Shearer, I just got back from his wedding, so I've actually been pretty lucky that a lot of my friends around my age have experience from playing over there, guys that are grinding out the pro life. I've tuned into a few games over the years. In terms of what I can bring, I just feel like there are some things the team is looking and I feel extremely comfortable, a lot of it is stuff I've done in Winkler. Helping in the d-zone, helping on the penalty kill, which has been really good the last few years, and stuff like that. I feel like running the defense is something 'Falker' got me onto when I first got here to Winkler, and it's all things that I'll get to jump into right there. Seemed to work perfect, it's all the things that I feel comfortable doing, and it's things they need filled there. I'm a big relationship guy, and I think that once I can get to know the guys, spend some time with them, I think we'll be off and running."
In 2014-15, a young Coltyn Bates got his first MJHL experience with the Winkler Flyers, and that started a relationship that blossomed from being a star player, to a championship coach, all of which he says made him the person he is today, and he'll be forever grateful to everyone who's made his dreams come true. "The hair stands up on my arms just thinking about it all," he says with a laugh. "I'm not even sure if there's a big enough thank you, to be honest. It's a place I'll always call home from here on. I was just telling my family the other night, when I come back from wherever the coaching world takes me, I'll be making Winkler home in the summer. It's a spot that is close to my heart, and the people are unmatched. I've been fortunate, Winkler since I played there, connecting with my billet family, building friendships throughout the years, and meeting incredible people. The community has been great to me, and I'm so grateful for everything and everybody who helped me along the way. The one thing I can say about the community is that I've never had anybody say no to helping in any way, shape, or form. A bunch of incredible people there, and I wouldn't be where I am without those people supporting me. I'm so, so grateful to Winkler and the Winkler Flyers. All the people I named, I could go on for hours about the board members or local people that sponsor, making it all happen. The players that gave us everything, and being in a market that hasn't won in a long time, to get over that edge, we've changed the culture forever. Incredibly grateful."
No matter where Coltyn Bates is coaching, whichever bench he's standing behind, a piece of his heart will be in Winkler, and in return, Winkler will be cheering him on from here on out, just as loud as they cheer on their Flyers.