New Providence Bruins head coach Ryan Mougenel provided a glimpse into why he’s the right man for the job in his Monday press conference.
The 45-year-old former minor league forward got the nod after two seasons behind the Providence bench as an assistant under Jay Leach. Prior to joining the Boston organization in 2020, he had extensive coaching experience in the ECHL and AHL.
Now, he takes the next big step in his career as a pro hockey coach, molding some of Boston’s most prized, yet future assets. Not all of them will make it to the NHL, but with the right leadership and development, it has become a crucial role for every organization.
“For me, a lot like the players, I’m progressing as a coach and trying to get better,” Mougenel said. “I’ve got amazing support around me from (assistant coach) Trent Whitfield and (Providence GM John Ferguson Jr.) and (Chris Kelly), and now (Adam McQuaid.) I’ve got amazing voices to lean on when I don’t have the answers, and I’m not saying I always have the answers, that’s not the type of person or coach that I am. I ask a lot of questions… But for me, what an honor, it’s obviously the premier job in the American Hockey League and I’m honored, grateful and super humbled to have this job.”
The signs have been evident that Mougenel was the one who would carry the coaching torch in Providence. He played a prominent role in Boston’s development camp, running a lot of the drills and on-ice sessions with the other coaches and player development staff. Observing his interactions with the players and staff, it was not hard to see that he was the likely choice for the critical role in helping many of the B’s prospects in pro hockey make the jump to the NHL.
Mougenel was particularly impressed with the progress of former Providence rookies Brady Lyle and Alex-Olivier Voyer, citing their off-ice conditioning work as key areas of progress that set them up for success at the camp. He also singled out goaltender Kyle Keyser for his positive steps forward and continued maturation as a pro.
“Sometimes it takes guys that first year to understand the commitment and work that has to go into it,” Mougenel said of the challenge that all AHL coaches face in developing young talent to be able to take that next step. “There’s a lot to be excited about for me as a head coach working with a lot of these guys who are maturing in their game. Brady Lyle, I’m very excited about. I think he’s on the right path.”
Mougenel will have a pretty good nucleus of talent to work with in Providence, and that core got a somewhat unexpected boost. Last week, the Bruins signed dynamic first-round draft choice Fabian Lysell, and is bringing him over to North America from Sweden for 2021-22. Whether he will be ready for an impact role in Providence remains to be seen, but his infusion of skill after a season spent with Lulea of the Swedish Hockey League, a level comparable to the AHL, is intriguing.
“I think the one big thing for us with the Bruins is that we’re just taking it day by day,” he said of the plan for Lysell. “The rookie camp is a great starting point for him and we’re going to work from there and see where it goes. I think it’s pretty evident that he’s got some special talent. He’s still only 18 years old, so obviously we’re very excited to get him acclimated to the foundations of the Bruins and what we are and what we believe, and the quicker we can get him acclimated to that at rookie camp, there’s no ceiling for him at all.”
Believing Lysell will be ready to step right into the NHL with Boston on opening night is wishful thinking, but he’s in good hands with a coach who is prepared to take a measured approach. There is no need to rush the teen, no matter how fast and talented he may be. That’s the lion’s share of the day-to-day work that Mougenel, Whitfield and an expected second assistant coach not yet determined, to tackle.
With his experience, belief in the importance of structure and inculcating those systems and the organization’s values on the organization’s young prospects, Mougenel brings the right attributes to succeed in the AHL. The ultimate measure of how well he does with the Providence Bruins will occur beyond the wins and losses, as the number of successful graduates to the NHL is what will cement Mougenel’s legacy.
“It’s an amazing hockey community and passionate fan base,” he said, adding his father couldn’t believe the level of devotion he witnessed from Baby Bruins supporters. “We’ve got fans that wait for the coaches at the end of the night by our cars outside in Providence in the freezing cold.”
