Insomnia is just Killer: ’Hounds coach driven

By Tom Williams

With his team nearing the playoffs, Kevin Kaminski hasn’t gotten much sleep.

YOUNGSTOWN — A quick look at the Central Hockey League’s Northern Conference standings shows why a coach as passionate about his job as Kevin Kaminski is tossing and turning in the wee hours.

Wednesday, Kaminski was awake at 4 a.m. scheming of ways for his Youngstown SteelHounds (37-20-5, 79 points) to defeat the Colorado Eagles (37-19-6, 80 points).

The SteelHounds and Eagles close the CHL regular season tonight and Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre. Neither has clinched a playoff berth, but both are one point away from the postseason.

Kaminski, 38, said waking up long before the alarm clock rings is something he often has dealt with during his eight-year coaching career.

“It happens a lot,” Kaminski said as his second year behind the SteelHounds bench winds down. “That intensity, that drive in me. Once I wake up and my mind gets going, I’m done [sleeping]. I won’t get back to sleep.”

“I remember that one point [in the season], I was up at 3:30 all the time,” said Kaminski whose playing style a decade ago in the National Hockey League earned him the nickname of “Killer.”

Entering tonight’s contest, the SteelHounds are fourth in the Northern Conference which will send five teams to the playoffs.

Two teams are set. Bossier-Shreveport (42-14-6, 90 points) is the Northeast Division winner and has home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. And the Texas Brahmas (82 points) have clinched a berth.

The rest of the playoff picture is jumbled, Either the Eagles or Rocky Mountain Rage (76 points) will win the Northwest Division and be seeded second.

The Mississippi RiverKings (78 points) are in fifth. The RiverKings and Rage can pass the SteelHounds if the Eagles win this weekend.

“Right now, we’ve just got to worry about ourselves,” said SteelHounds forward Joel Irving whose 25th goal put Youngstown ahead 2-1 in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory. “If we keep winning, then things will sort themselves out.

“We’ve been having some success lately and we’re up against a really good hockey team right now. It’s a good test for us and that will build us up for the playoffs coming up.”

The race would be tighter except for a spectacular collapse by the Rage late Wednesday against the Arizona Sundogs. After leading by five goals in the third period and nursing a 6-3 lead with less than two minutes to go, the Sundogs rallied to win 7-6 in overtime.

“Hockey is a game about momentum,” said SteelHounds defenseman Eric Main who scored the first goal against the Eagles. “They certainly had it for the first period and a half.”

In Wednesday’s game, the SteelHounds were outshot 25-10 but trailed just 1-0 before rallying for three straight goals,

“When you’re not getting the bounces, you’ve just got to weather the storm,” Main said. “Frankie [goaltender Andy Franck] is a big part of that, he gives us a chance to win every night.

“If you keep the shots to the outside and don’t give them any Grade A scoring chances, when the tide turns, you try to get those Grade A moments.”

Although they are one point shy from an extended season, Main said the SteelHounds are aware of the challenge of playing division winners Laredo and Colorado down the stretch.

“We’re playing great teams and I think it’s beneficial for us,” Main said. “It’s a tough schedule but I think it will help us come the playoffs. Laredo and Colorado — they’ve been there year after year. They know what it takes to win in the playoffs.

“If you can beat them, you’re doing a good job.”

williams@vindy.com