They Said It - Sundogs Head Coach Marco Pietroniro Sits Down for a Q & A

The next coach to sit down in our 'They Said It' series is Arizona's Marco Pietroniro.  After a rollercoaster off-season, the Sundogs are ready to get back to the finals and win another Cup.

Read all the completed Coaches Q & A's HERE

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Looking back at last season, the team finished strong after some struggles early on, how would you describe the 2009-10 season?

After a difficult first half, we were able to make some key changes in order to be more competitive. After the trading deadline we were hit with two major season-ending injuries to some of our leading scorers in Kevin Gardner and Chad Hinz which certainly hurt us down the stretch.

This off-season has been interesting to say the least for the Sundogs, what has been the biggest obstacles? 

Time. We have had a much shorter offseason than normal. It’s been tougher to recruit and adjust and address what needs to be fixed in less time.

Chris Bartolone announced his retirement recently, how much will he be missed on the ice and how far can he go in the coaching world with all you know about his character?

Our fans will miss him, but at the same time they will be able to enjoy him as an assistant coach behind the bench. Chris is a great character guy and I’m sure he will adjust well to his new role as a coach.

The Sundogs have had affiliations in the past and seasons without, what are the biggest benefits of having those affiliations and what are the pluses of going without?

I think having an affiliation is a positive overall. Teams benefit by receiving talented players contracted by the NHL  parent club. We’ve received some very skilled players during our seasons with a NHL affiliation. When without an affiliation, you don’t necessarily have to worry about losing a player to a call-up and having to fill that roster spot.

Who were some of the people in the coaching world that helped you get to where you are today and who did you look up to?

John Paris Jr. was my first coach in Major Junior. He was hard and fun to play for. I remember him being a great teacher and a strong disciplinarian. Great all around. Eric Lacroix, our first owner, believed in me and gave me a lot of trust. It was fun being around his positive attitude.

Due to geography, the Sundogs travel as much as any team in the CHL and always on extended road trips, can this be a positive for your group?

We are a blue sky organization, therefore I believe we will make it work to our benefit. The schedule is what it is. It isn’t without it’s challenges but we’re going to compete every night regardless of when or where we’re playing.

What else are you looking for on the recruiting trail to get this team where you want it to be heading into training camp?

I’m looking for players with strong character and a team-first attitude. Players come here to play hockey but they also need to be great community partners with our fans and supporters. They’re more than just professional athletes. They’re role models to our younger fans.

The Sundogs are entering their fifth season in the CHL and have won a championship, what needs to be done to get your team back to the promised land?

We need a full commitment from everyone involved and we need to get back to believing in what we do in Arizona. Our team is a community team and we need everyone to be part of it. I believe that with everyone involved we can raise the roof together.