Five Minutes with Coach Nick
1. What got you interested in hockey?
A: I can’t ever remember not having it around. I remember watching hockey with my dad even when I was a little boy in Canada. In some points of my life, it wasn’t the main focus, but it’s always been around and I have just always loved it.
2. What is your favorite hockey memory?
A: There isn’t really just one. There are fragments from every year. I have to say the majority come from my years coaching the Ice Hawks. I really look forward to watching my kids play some day.
3. What is your favorite NHL team?
A: Honestly, I don’t have one. I just love watching good hockey played, so it switches around every year. I’m a little partial to some teams, but I love to watch local teams play, so I really hope the Wild can turn it around this year and have a good season.
4. How long have you been with the Ice Hawks?
A: I’ve been with the ice Hawks since the beginning. I was supposed to be a coach, but then USA hockey changed the age limit so I was able to play. I joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach the following year and moved up to head coach from there. This is my 10th season as head coach for the Hawks.
5. There are a lot of rumors every year about you leaving to coach another team; Any truth to that?
A: Well There are offers that come in, but this program has been very successful and I have been lucky to be a part of that. I have 3 great children that love Rochester and want this to stay their home. There may be other offers, but so far there hasn’t been anything even close enough to pull me away from my new hometown.
6. If you had to coach a sport other than hockey, what would you coach and why?
A: I would probably coach baseball. I love the intricacies of the game. I see baseball as being a lot like chess. There are a lot of ways that small changes and coaching can change the game and that has always interested me. I love the level of strategy that comes with the game.
7. Rochester is hosting the national tournament this year; any chance we will see the Ice Hawks there?
A: Well I certainly hope so. We’ve made the national tournament the last 7 years, but every season is a new season. We have a good start under our belt, but it’s not how you start, its how you finish. We hope to be able to represent the MNJHL at the national tournament again this year.
Nick Fatis’/Ice Hawks Record
2000-01 Ice Hawks (LeSueur, MN) 23 Wins 31 Losses
2001-02 Ice Hawks (LeSueur, MN) 23 Wins 37 Losses 3 Ties
2002-03 Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) 17 Wins 30 Losses 4 Ties
2003-04 Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) 30 Wins 14 Losses 3 Ties
2004-05 Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) 41 Wins 8 Losses 4 Ties
2005-06 Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) 44 Wins 9 Losses 4 Ties
2006-07 Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) 44 Wins 5 Losses 2 Ties
2007-08 Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) 47 Wins 5 Losses 2 Ties
2008-09 Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) 47 Wins 9 Losses
2009-10 Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) 49 Wins 8 Losses 1 OTL
2010-11 Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) 43 Wins 11Losses 3 OTL
408 Wins 167 Losses 22 Ties 4 OTL