Jaroslav Modry Finds Second Profession in Teaching

It was a straightforward resolution for Jaroslav Modry and his household to return to Los Angeles after he completed his professional hockey profession.He spent ten seasons and 454 video games with the Kings, probably the most of any crew in his NHL profession. Plus, all three of his kids have been born in California. In reality, they have been all delivered in the identical hospital by the identical physician whereas he was enjoying in LA.And, in fact, most significantly, his spouse, Jodi, actually liked it there too. So, after he hung up his skates in 2012, following 4 years of enjoying again residence within the Czech Republic, the Modrys determined they have been going again to Cali. “We mentioned it will be actually cool to reside there and expertise what it was prefer to reside in Southern California away from hockey,” Modry not too long ago recalled. “After I was enjoying hockey, we did not have the possibility to sightsee. You had to focus on your job. You could not go to the seashore constantly. You needed to keep on the highest of your sport,” he added. Modry wished to return to Los Angeles to really expertise every part town needed to supply, however he ended up discovering a lot extra. When he obtained again, he reconnected with a couple of of his former teammates who have been nonetheless dwelling within the space, together with Jamie Storr, who was a goaltender with the Kings from 1994 to 2003. Not solely did Storr assist Modry transition again to life in LA, he additionally obtained him concerned in youth hockey with the Jr. Kings program. As quickly as he stepped out onto the ice with the Jr. Kings AAA group for the primary time, Modry was hooked.”I noticed I had the eagerness [to coach] and started learning it day-after-day to attempt to get higher,” he mirrored. Whereas Modry labored on refining his teaching abilities, his two sons, Jacob and Luc, actually started creating their hockey abilities. Each frolicked within the Jr. Kings program and never solely benefitted from their father’s tutelage as a coach, however his expertise as a participant. “It was good to have the ability to assist them out and present them what’s forward for them and assist them take pleasure in this stunning sport,” he defined. “It is as much as them how far they’ll take the sport, but it surely’s essential that you just like it and revel in it. There are occasions when it is going to be robust and for those who do not like it otherwise you’re not passionate for it, it is going to be onerous to battle via the adversity,” he continued. It was not lengthy into his tenure with the Jr. Kings earlier than Modry realized that he wished to teach on the professional stage. In 2017, he earned that chance when he was named as an assistant coach with the Ontario Reign, the LA Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate. “The Kings gave me a chance so now I get to expertise being a coach in professional hockey. I am having fun with each minute of it,” Modry exclaimed. Over the course of his 20-year skilled hockey profession, Modry had a variety of nice coaches. Now that he is behind the bench with the Reign, he hopes to attract from the wealth of expertise he is had with coaches who’ve included Robbie Ftorek, Jacques Lemaire, Larry Robinson, and Andy Murray.”Each coach had some energy and one thing distinctive that they introduced,” Modry famous. “The largest affect early in my profession have been a pair coaches again residence [Czech Republic] who went out of their approach to assist me out. After I first obtained to america, my first coach was Robbie Ftorek. He was only a good gentleman and went out of his option to educate me find out how to be a professional and what to anticipate on the NHL stage,” he remembered. Whether or not it was how Larry Robinson handled individuals or Andy Murray’s consideration to element, Modry has realized one thing from each coach he is ever had and has tried to include their teachings into his teaching e book. When he thinks about what energy or distinctive attribute he brings to the Reign, Modry believes it is the belief he builds with the gamers as he tries to assist them attain their full potential. “I am right here to assist them out and get them to the following stage,” he said. Whereas working with them on the basics of the sport and enhancing their abilities is an enormous a part of his job, Modry believes that a good larger a part of his portfolio helps them transition into skilled hockey. “Serving to them perceive what it takes to be a professional and perceive what it is prefer to go from junior to professional hockey or school to professional hockey so as to discover success on the highest stage within the NHL,” Modry described. Though Modry has graduated to the professional ranks of teaching, he nonetheless finds time to work with the Jr. Kings. This previous week he was in Lake Tahoe, Nevada for an annual coaching camp that he is been part of for the previous 5 years, which permits the gamers and coaches to get to know one another and have some enjoyable earlier than the season begins. It is difficult for Modry to assist out with the youth program as soon as the Reign’s season begins, however he all the time appears to seek out time in his busy schedule. “I simply assist out after I can,” he defined. “I assist out a few of the groups and a few of the coaches I’ve labored with previously. Something I may also help out with, I attempt to do my greatest,” Modry added. If Modry’s dedication and dedication to his new craft is any indication, he has a brilliant future within the teaching world.