MOOSE TRACKS – NICK GREENOUGH
He was a player known more for his physical style of play than he was for finding the back of the net, but Windsor native Nick Greenough didn’t waste any time making a great impression on the Mooseheads fan faithful back in January, 2000.
“I don’t know how I did it, but I scored on my first shift and you know obviously that wasn’t my usual go-to thing so that was pretty fun,” Greenough said during a phone interview this week.
The sounds of players skating and shouting could be heard in the background as the 33-year-old former Mooseheads forward took a few minutes away from his job as Head Coach and General Manager of the Maritime Hockey League’s Valley Wildcats.
Greenough joined the Mooseheads along with Benoit Dusablon in a midseason trade with Val d’Or that sent Jason Troini to the Foreurs.
“It was an exciting time that’s for sure, I know we played that night in Rouyn Noranda and we got back late and that’s when I got the phone call that I had been traded to Halifax and I’d have to be on a flight the next morning.”
The tough forward would go on to play 31 regular season games with the Herd and another 10 in the postseason as the club hosted the Memorial Cup tournament that year.
“You know I always wanted to play in Halifax and I know for my family it was awesome for them because playing in Val d-Or is not the most convenient place to visit and it was back in a time when we’d only get down to play once or twice a year.”
Greenough, who now lives in Avonport, NS with his wife Jenn and sons Jax, Tripp and Jett, says it’s been a busy start to the season both on and off the ice.
“Yeah Jett was our new addition to the family on September 26th so it’s a crazy household some nights, yeah we’re building our own hockey team.”
He says he already has his children involved with the Hockey Club.
“It’s fun, my two oldest boys have their little Wildcats track-suits and they’re both stick boys so they’re always at the rink with me, and Jax has come on a couple of road trips as well.”
After spending 11 years in the professional ranks including stints in 12 different cities, Greenough decided it was time to hang up the skates after finding the urge to move behind the bench.
“Obviously it was something that I decided I’d like to do during my last couple of years playing pro, and I moved home and helped my brother coach the Bantam Triple ‘A’ team in West Hants and right away the Midget Triple ‘A’ job came up in the Valley and I threw my name in the hat for it and I was fortunate that I got the job and everything just progressed from there.”
Greenough did a great job with the major midget program, quickly turning the team into a contender.
“In my five years with that team we had pretty good success and got some players drafted into the Q League and ultimately making it to the Telus Cup in my last year there.”
The young coach is more than happy being where he is, but like anyone he dreams of bigger and better things for himself and his family.
“I was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time when the Junior ‘A’ job came along and hopefully for that next step another opportunity will open sometime down the road.”
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