Butler going strong with North Bay Battalion

TORONTO — Stan Butler has a resume that would make professional hockey teams take notice, but the Ontario Hockey League’s longest-serving head coach says his passion for the junior game is what drives him after more than two decades behind the bench.

The 62-year-old Butler is entering his 21st season with the North Bay Battalion organization after taking over as coach in 1998 while the franchise was still in Brampton. He’s spent a total of 23 seasons in the Canadian Hockey League, starting with the Oshawa Generals in 1994.

“I guess you have to love your job, you really like the league and as long as you feel you have the energy, drive, and determination you keep doing this thing,” Butler said ahead of the 2018-19 OHL season that begins today.

Butler, who spent a year out west with the Prince George Cougars in 1996-97 before returning to Ontario, begins the year fourth all-time with 1,492 OHL games coached and 702 career victories. Last season he joined London Knights head coach Dale Hunter and legends Brian Kilrea and Bert Templeton as just the fourth head coach in league history to reach 700 wins.

His milestone victory came March 2, 2018 against Mississauga. “I knew I was close but I didn’t even realize I was at 699,” Butler said.

“There are so many other things going on, trying to get your team ready for the next game, stuff like that. As nice as it is, at the end of the day you want to make sure you look at the team aspect, not the individual.”

Many coaches have used the junior ranks to develop their skills in preparation for a jump to the professional ranks. Butler, who has also coached Canada to silver (2002) and bronze (2001) at the world junior championship, said the OHL is where he’s meant to be.

“One of those things, there were opportunities at different times in my career and timing wasn’t right. And then you get to a point where you’re probably at an age, to be honest, you’ve made a decision and you stay with it and keep coaching the level you’ve been coaching.

“I was looking at pro opportunities and (CHL commissioner) David Branch said to me: ‘What do you think of the career Brian Kilrea has had?’ And I said ‘pretty impressive.’ And he said ‘What’s wrong with being a career junior hockey coach?’ And that always hit home to me.”

The Toronto native added that there is something special about coaching young players. “You’re with them the five most important years of their life in the sense of moving into adulthood,” he said. “I’m proud of the guys that have made the NHL but I’m also proud of the guys who succeeded in the real world... if that’s what you’d call it.”