Jamaica-born coach Nigel Kirwan works his way behind the Lightning bench.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published September 21, 2003
BRANDON - There was a moment during Lightning rookie camp when Nigel Kirwan could not help but think about where he has been and where he might be going.
It was before a game against the Thrashers in Traverse City, Mich., and Kirwan was behind the bench as Tampa Bay's coach. Kirwan ran the defense the previous two games, but this was the first time he was in charge of the entire team.
"It was really great to be on that bench and look onto the ice and see the Tampa Bay Lightning logo," Kirwan said last week at the Ice Sports Forum. "That's an NHL sweater out there, and to be responsible for that sweater was pretty neat. I looked around a couple of times and said, "Wow, do I belong here?"'
Forgive Kirwan his moment of trepidation, because even he has to shake his head at his story.
How do you go from considering a career with the FBI, investigating white-collar crime, to becoming the Lightning's video coordinator and assistant coach? How do you go from throwing away your hockey gear after moving to Tampa from London, Ontario, to becoming the NHL's second black assistant?
For Kirwan, 32, who said his long-term plan is to coach on the college level, it was all about making the most of opportunities given by former Lightning coach Terry Crisp and current coach John Tortorella.
First some housekeeping.
Kirwan is aware of his place in history. The NHL went to great lengths to research it, and says he is currently its only black coach. But Kirwan said he never gave it a thought until someone from Tampa Bay's public relations department brought it up.
"That's not something that's an issue to me," he said of his race. "I don't think about it. I know some people in the black community will be disappointed for me saying that, but I don't look at myself as a trailblazer at all. I look at myself as somebody who's just trying to learn and get better and let this lead to something else."
"He could be white, black, blue or orange, it doesn't enter into it," Tortorella said. "There is no way I'm going to trust anyone with this hockey team if I don't think he's capable. We're trying to give him more to do so he can progress. He can handle it."
Kirwan was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but learned to play hockey in Winnipeg, where his parents moved when he was 2. A left wing, he played through high school. After attending the University of Western Ontario in London, Kirwan visited his parents, who had settled in Tampa, and never left.
While studying criminology and finance at the University of Tampa, Kirwan worked for the Bucs as a part-time equipment assistant. In 1992, he joined the Lightning ticket office.
He and Crisp became fast friends, and the coach noticed as Kirwan got involved in community leagues, the board of the Florida Youth Hockey Association and as a founding member of the Statewide Amateur Hockey Association of Florida.
"You could tell his love of the game," Crisp said. "And his knowledge was there. When he told me he was a Winnipeg boy and raised on hockey, I knew I had a champ."
In 1996, Crisp appointed Kirwan video coordinator. Though Kirwan had no video experience, he immersed himself in the job.
"He wasn't afraid to work and put in the extra hours," Crisp said. "If he wanted to know something, he'd come into my office and say, "Why did you do this?' and "Why did you say this to the players?"'
Eventually Crisp let Kirwan onto the ice during practice to, as Kirwan said, "shuffle pucks around." That stopped with coaches Jacques Demers and Steve Ludzik, and Kirwan said he never pushed it. Tortorella brought him back and recognized him as a coach in January 2001.
"I did a lot of tape with him, and I could see he had a great hockey mind," Tortorella said. "He asked a lot of questions and even rebutted occasionally, which I thought was terrific."
Kirwan's bank of VCRs in a room under the stands of the St. Pete Times Forum records games on the local cable company's NHL Center Ice package.
He breaks down videos, reports on opponents to Tampa Bay coaches and creates videos to use as visual aides. He does the same with Lightning games and works with players who want refreshers.
Kirwan helps Tortorella and associate coach Craig Ramsay run on-ice drills. He offers coaching to players whose games need tweaking. Considering he is relatively new at the job, and without a professional hockey resume, Kirwan picks his spots.
"You've got guys like Dave Andreychuk, there's nothing I can say to him," Kirwan said. "He's seen it, done it and been there. It's not my job to go out there and tell him how to play the game."
When he does offer an opinion, Kirwan said players "are attentive and pay attention. They know I'm coming up and learning and they're very professional about it. I've never had a problem with anyone on the ice."
"We look at him and respect him for what he's done," defenseman Jassen Cullimore said. "He knows the system just as good as the coaches, and knows what he's talking about."
That respect will come in handy during preseason when Kirwan is behind the bench with Ramsay while Tortorella watches from the press box. As long as Kirwan works out a few glitches.
Ramsay said Kirwan was "in complete control" running the defense during Thursday's preseason opener until ... "he stepped on my foot. Then we weren't happy with Nigel."
"He was all over me for that," Kirwan said.
Tortorella appeared unconcerned.
"I don't even call him a video coach anymore," he said. "He's an assistant coach."
"I'm the same guy," Kirwan said. "I'm just expanding my horizons."
