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Posted Oct. 5, 2002
By Annie Fowler
Herald staff writer
Shaun and Cory Clouston played on the same hockey teams when they were growing up in Viking, Alberta, and each helped the University of Alberta win a CIAU championship.
Tonight, the brothers will be on opposing benches for the first time when the Kootenay Ice visits the Tri-City Americans.
"There are mixed emotions," said Americans coach Shaun Clouston. "I am excited to see him, but on the other hand, it's just another hockey game. I'm sure we are going to end up playing games against each other many times over the years, but the first time will be special. In a perfect world, it would end in a tie."
Game time is 7:35 p.m. at the Tri-Cities Coliseum.
The Cloustons aren't the first brothers to coach against each other in the Western Hockey League, but it has been 24 years since Doug Sauter (Calgary Wranglers) and Mike Sauter (Lethbridge Broncos) made history.
"We met eight times that year (1978-79) and I won them all," said Doug Sauter, who coached 17 years in the WHL and now coaches the Oklahoma City Blazers. "We had a little pewter mug and called it the Fairlight Cup. We played for this $4 cup, but he never beat me. It was all mine."
Doug Sauter, who also coached his brother's three sons, Hardy, Barkley and Don, said he knows tonight's game will be tough on the Clouston family.
"I wish them all the luck," said Sauter, who beat Shaun Clouston's Tulsa Oilers when both coached in the Central Hockey League. "I really felt for my brother when we beat them. It's always nice to win, but it's harder when you beat your brother."
The Cloustons are in a unique situation, with both taking over head coaching roles in the same season.
"When we finally get to face off, there will be a lot of emotion," Shaun said. "I'm assuming as the game gets under way we will probably feel like it's a real game more and more."
Cory, whose team will be playing its third game in four days, said he hasn't given much thought to tonight's game.
"I've been pretty focused with the games at hand," Cory said. "Once it comes, it will be exciting, but once the puck drops, it will be just another game."
Shaun, 34, is in his first year with the Americans, who changed ownership in August. The team is 1-2-0-1 and has not played since losing in Spokane last Saturday.
Cory, 33, who was an assistant with the defending Memorial Cup champion Ice for three years, took over the program in July and is the third head coach in the franchise's seven years. The Ice comes into tonight's game with a 4-0-1-1 record after a 3-2 victory Friday in Portland.
"Being a first-year head coach, you need to have some success," Shaun said. "Hopefully, one day the Tri-City Americans can accomplish similar feats the Ice have."
Before joining the Americans, Shaun compiled a 156-142-29 record in seven seasons as a head coach in the Central Hockey League, Western Professional Hockey League and the West Coast Hockey League. He was an assistant for the Portland Winter Hawks last season under head coach Mike Williamson.
"In title, I took a step back last year when I went to Portland, but hockey-wise, it's a step up," Shaun said.
When Shaun was a 15-year-old forward, he left home to play midget hockey in Sherwood Park. At 17, he took a big jump from midgets to the University of Alberta, which won a CIAU championship in his only year with the Golden Bears (1985-86). He then went on to play three years in the WHL for the Winter Hawks.
"I was part of a Western Division championship team my first and third years, and my last two years I was a captain there," said Shaun of his time in Portland.
Cory, also a forward, took a different route to the WHL.
He played three years for the Sherwood Park (Alberta) Crusaders, then played four years at the University of Alberta, helping the Golden Bears to a CIAU title during the 1991-92 season.
Prior to joining the Ice in 1999, Cory was the general manager and head coach of the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (1995-99). During his four-year stay in Grande Prairie, his team was 143-82-15, and he was named AJHL Coach of the Year in 1995-96.
"The adjustment has been good," Cory said. "This is my fourth year here and I'm pretty familiar with the program and the players.
One thing the two brothers won't have to worry about is what rooting section their parents, Wayne and Diann, will sit in.
"Our parents live in Saskatchewan, which is about a 16-hour drive," Shaun said. "They won't be here, but I'm sure they will be following it on the Internet. Hopefully, this is enjoyable for our family."
Cory is more concerned with the Ice's lack of success in the Tri-Cities.
"We've only won here once in seven years," Cory said. "We will expect a hard battle. The key will be to stay focused."
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