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Ducks coach big fan of former pupil Rielly

Lance Hornby lhornby@postmedia.com

Mike Stothers knew prized pupil Morgan Rielly would blossom in the NHL.

Now, Stothers must find a way to shut down the hot Toronto Maple Leafs’ defenceman.

At a key stage in this NHL season when Rielly has never been more appreciated, his old junior coach comes to town to see that maturity first-hand, as interim head coach of the Anaheim Ducks.

“Morgs was such as special player for us in Moose Jaw,” Stothers said ahead of Wednesday’s game, when Stothers fills in again for COVID-19 case Dallas Eakins. “You could see the talent he exuded back then, so it’s not surprising to see what he’s become in the NHL. He was a terrific kid, raised well by his parents and has a character of humbleness and humility that make him a great fit playing in a city like Toronto. He absolutely hated talking about himself and gave the front of the bus to other people.”

That has not changed. The alternate captain added 19 points the past 15 games to some huge own zone moments. The praise piled up in recent games as Rielly’s role and that of partner TJ Brodie increased in the absence of Jake Muzzin and Justin Holl, yet he quickly deflected it.

When teammate Mitch Marner argued last week Rielly should have been picked an NHL all-star by now, Rielly turned that around Tuesday, saying Marner deserved more than just his 2021 selection at right wing.

Stothers, 59, coached Rielly for two WHL seasons, including his 2012 draft year when he missed a chunk of time with a torn ACL, but was chosen fifth overall by the Leafs.

“Now he’s a seasoned veteran,” Stothers said. “I really think his skating sets him apart and will allow him to play a lot longer in the NHL than players his age (he turns 28 in March).”

The Toronto-born Stothers and B.C. native Rielly hit it off in the Prairie years, Rielly thrilled that fate would bring them together Wednesday. Stothers, a former Leaf, ended his playing career in the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization and from there, assisted on the bench with their AHL teams before taking the head position with the OHL’S Owen Sound Attack and later, the Warriors.

“He had a big impact on me; with who he is and how he coaches,” Rielly said. “I like the way he operates. I’ll be happy for him (while Eakins recovers). He’s had two wins now as a head coach (both results did the Leafs a favour in beating Toronto’s Atlantic Division running mates Boston and Tampa Bay), so hopefully we’re able to put that to an end.”

Stothers was added to Eakins’ staff this season after six years working for the Los Angeles Kings, winning the 2015 Calder Cup with the Manchester Monarchs.

“I’ve been blessed as a coach,” Stothers said. “Morgs, Brayden Point (picked two years after Rielly) whom I just saw in the Tampa game, and the Leafs I know from the Kings, Jack Campbell, Muzzin and Kyle Clifford.”

The Leafs return to Scotiabank Arena from splitting six games on the road, ending on a high with a 3-1 win over the Islanders on Saturday. Coach Sheldon Keefe noted there would be a degree of culture shock after playing to many packed houses.

“Not just the fullest, but some of the loudest and most intense buildings you’ll find in the league,” Keefe noted of Vegas and the two New York venues, MSG and USB. “It’s something for us to adjust back to, though we’ve had a ton of experience with it last year. But the opposition will be going through the same thing (in reverse order).”

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2022-01-26T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-26T08:00:00.0000000Z

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