Capistrano Coyotes ice hockey team, led by coach Labbe, is on the rise
RANCHO MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — The Capistrano Coyotes ice hockey team advanced all the way to the National Championships in Omaha, Nebraska, last season. Led by experienced Coaching Director Jean Labbe, the boys represented all schools in the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) and are the program’s first team to compete in the USA Hockey National Championships.
Growing up in Canada and on the East Coast, Labbe has hockey in his blood. The Coyotes require a seasoned coach, like Labbe, to ensure the team can be successful and cohesive with a mix of top talent from Tesoro, San Juan Hills, Capistrano Valley, San Clemente, Aliso Niguel, and Dana Hills High Schools.
“We look for balance, commitment, and of course skill, but we’re also looking at character,” says Labbe. “We’ve had student body presidents and captains who had over 500 hours of community service; we’re obviously looking for skills but also for really good people.”
Labbe, who played hockey for much of his life, did not enter the world of coaching until he moved to Southern California from Montreal in 2001. Starting as a volunteer coach at the Aliso Viejo Ice Rink, Coach Labbe eventually turned his new role into a full-time job. Making a transition into club hockey in 2003, he entered high school competition with JSerra High School in 2011, shortly after he and his family moved to Ladera Ranch.
Hockey is not as popular in sunny Southern California as it is where Coach Labbe grew up, but efforts to grow the game in recent years by the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings are starting to change that. The Ducks built a $120 million facility in Irvine giving more rink access to local kids, and both National Hockey League programs provide high school leagues for their surrounding areas.
“Locally, hockey has grown by leaps and bounds,” shares Labbe. “It’s a fast-paced game, and kids here have really taken to it.”
Hockey, though, is not for the timid looking for a new sport to try. With many skills not transferable from other sports, Coach Labbe believes most players in his system started ice hockey or at least roller hockey around five or six years old. On the other hand, Labbe hopes his players develop as all-around athletes by playing other sports at the same time as hockey, but he recognizes the time struggles. Hockey is an exceptionally time-consuming sport due to travel.
The Capistrano Coyotes are not the average on-campus high school sport. The team holds off-season clinics throughout spring and official tryouts for CUSD students are in June. Players trying out will compete for a spot on one of three teams: Varsity Division One, Varsity Division Three, and Junior Varsity. More information can be found on capocoyotes.com.
No matter a player’s age, years played, or level of experience, Coach Labbe emphasizes the importance of enjoying the game of hockey. “Just have fun with it; take the time to enjoy the game,” he adds. “Don’t worry about being a professional athlete.”
Following an impressive season, Coach Labbe and his Capistrano Coyotes hope for continued success as the sport of hockey continues to grow in Southern California.
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