Cochrane making a difference in Wayway

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This article was published 25/01/2025 (237 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

First-year coach Landyn Cochrane of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines has a clear vision for the short and long term.

After assuming the head coach role just three weeks before Manitoba Junior Hockey League training camps began this fall, Cochrane and the Wolverines have played themselves into the top four of the West Division, and a potential return to the postseason in the process.

Cochrane took over from Taylor Harrnett, whose fingerprints are still all over the squad having largely constructed the team before resigning in July, but lately Cochrane has the Wolverines playing like a team on a mission.

Having won three straight prior to Thursday’s loss to Steinbach, the Wolverines have started playing playoff-type hockey in the second half of the season.

In Cochrane’s first season behind the bench as an assistant coach last year, the Wolverines missed the playoffs.

With Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Virden, Wayway surpassed the Oil Caps in the standings, leap-frogging themselves into the playoffs with a gutsy, come-from-behind win.

“We’ve been playing some good hockey lately, lost a couple close ones that easily could’ve gone the other way, but the group has bought in to what we’re trying to do,” said Cochrane.

“We’re a hard-working team and we’re in every game, so down the stretch we’re just looking to keep grinding. We’re going to take it game by game and see how it ends up.”

No stranger to the organization, Cochrane played three seasons for the Wolverines after a stellar AAA U18 career with the Parkland Rangers.

He grew up near Silverton, just outside Russell and was well familiar with both the MJHL and Wayway before concluding his junior career with Virden in 2017-18.

He made the Wolverines as a 17-year-old out of high school hockey who continually bet on himself, proving all along the way his quiet presence off the ice didn’t reflect his on-ice play.

Cochrane is quick to recognize the support he’s had along the way from Harnett, as well as current coaching staff of Tayler Thompson, Ryan Regel and director of player personnel Kevin Monkman: He’s big on thanking those that have had a hand in getting him to this stage.

Especially the entire community of Waywayseecappo.

“Very familiar with the area and how important the team is to the community,” said Cochrane.

“I’ve got great support from Chief Murray Clearsky as well. We all have a vision for what this team can, be so I’m helping to strive for that end goal of getting into the playoffs this year.”

Cochrane’s junior career was a precursor to what he thought would be the next step in his career in education, as he enrolled at Minot State University to continue playing hockey for the Beavers but also the intent of becoming a physical education teacher.

He spent five years at Minot State as a skilled forward, where he put up 93 points in 100 career games.

A big part of his development included experiencing life with a winning culture, as the Beavers won an American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 title in his senior season.

At just five months into his head coaching career however, he has a long way to go before being compared to experienced coaches like Blake Spiller in Portage and Doug Hedley in Dauphin, who have more than 30 years of MJHL head coaching experience combined.

“As a young player I was scared of some of these guys like Blake and Doug as well as Kenny Pearson in Neepawa, just because of how intense they can be but honestly they’ve all been absolutely great to me,” said Cochrane.

“There’s a lot to learn, especially on the GM side of things, but I know I can pick up the phone and give them a call. They’ve been awesome, giving me lots of support.”

At 27, Cochrane was the youngest coach in the league just temporarily, until Swan Valley hired 26-year-old Josh Tripp in early November.

The two were teammates in the Manitoba U18 ranks, and although are now competing against each other, the bond is still firmly in place.

“Tripper and I met over Christmas in Winnipeg and had some great conversations about what’s been good but also what’s been tough. I grew up playing Parkland Rangers with him and having him up in this corner of the province has been great,” said Cochrane.

The Wolverines are looking at the homestretch of the regular season with the goal of hanging on to the last playoff spot, if not continually climbing the standings in the ultra-competitive West Division.

With 17 games left in the regular season, eight of which are at home, simply holding off the Oil Capitals will come as a challenge.

On the bright side, Cochrane doesn’t need to sell himself to his squad.

Cochrane is very positive, upbeat, and not afraid to lean into the work that comes with being a junior hockey coach, according to team captain Owen Pringle.

“Landyn is super engaged, he breaks stuff down really well for us, and I think he emphasizes a lot of skill for us,” said Pringle.

“He wants to use skills and make plays and not just chip and chase, you know boring, old-school hockey so to speak. It’s been awesome.”

Being only a few years removed from playing in the league, Cochrane’s age isn’t lost on his team, as his ability to relate to the players but also take things seriously when needed is an asset.

“He likes to joke around and have fun with the guys but you can tell when he wants to get serious. He shuts down the fun stuff when he has to, but he’s a young guy and likes to have fun. I’m sure he misses the guys because the best part of junior hockey is being in the dressing room,” Pringle added.

While the short-term goal is to keep building on the recent success and the culture within the team, Cochrane hopes to be a perennial playoff team with the hopes of making a deep post-season run in the near future.

“I’m here to keep building this organization where Taylor Harnett left it. He made my job easy when I came in, so I just want to keep building that culture and make the players, when they leave here, remember their time in Waywayseecappo as being competitive every year,” Cochrane said.

“We want to make the playoffs every year. Having started the job in August, and where we are now in January is hopefully only the beginning.”

The Wolverines’ next three games are on the road against East Division opponents, starting tonight in Winnipeg against the Freeze before a three-game homestand that concludes on Feb. 11 against Virden.

»mpackwood@brandonsun.com