How Paul Mara’s new coaching career came out of the red, white and blue

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
May 8, 2017

Tampa, Fla. – Paul Mara stood on the outskirts Friday afternoon as the Olympic roster for the U.S. Women’s team was announced during a televised event at Amalie Arena.

The former Tampa Bay Lightning first-round pick in 1997, back in the building for the first time since his playing days ended, is now full bore in to his second career as a coach. That new path will lead him to Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February for the 2018 Winter Olympics as a member of Team USA women’s hockey team.

”It’s incredible,’’ Mara said. “It’s such a privilege, an honor and a thrill to be part of the Olympic team. We have one goal for the next eight months and that’s what our focus is and that’s to bring home gold.’’

Getting the opportunity to be a part of the Olympics came almost completely out of the red, white and blue.

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Mara, who was part of the deal in which Tampa Bay acquired goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, carved out a lengthy NHL career after being selected with the seventh overall pick by Tampa Bay in 1997, appearing in 734 career games with the Lightning, Phoenix, Montreal, Boston, Anaheim and the New York Rangers. Considered a mobile, offensive-minded defenseman, Mara scored 64 goals and 253 points during his career, twice reaching double-digits in goals (2003 and 2006) while with Phoenix from 1998-2011. He resumed play in 2012-13, signing with the Ontario Reign in the ECHL and then the Houston Aeros in the American Hockey League before calling it quits.

Though coaching never felt like much of a calling for Mara, he returned to Massachusetts and has helped out at his former prep school, Belmont Hill, outside of Boston, though never with the intention of making it a post-playing career.

”I know all the coaches that I had – and (current Lightning associate coach) Rick Bowness is one of the favorites that I had – and thinking about it back in the day, I never thought about getting in to it,’’ Mara said. “So it’s just sort of fell in to my lap and it’s been awesome.’’

As Mara was helping out at Belmont Hill, USA Women’s program general manager Regan Carey was given a list of potential candidates for the national team coaching staff. Current Buffalo Sabres assistant general manager Chris Drury brought up Mara, a former teammate with the Rangers, to Carey.

After a few conversations that began in November, Mara joined the coaching staff for a two-game series against Canada in December where it was apparent how much of a fit Mara was with the team and staff, so he was named to the staff for the recently completed World Championships in Plymouth, Michigan, where the U.S captured gold.

”He’s got a great demeanor and he brings a lot with his experience and being able to translate that in to what helps our players become the best version of themselves,’’ Carey said. “Some of the tips that he has learned along the way that can help even with our veterans is great. But he’s got a great perspective on when to have fun with them and when to make sure they are staying loose and confident and at the same time he can bring a lot to our coaching mindset and our vision.

“It’s a great balance and good energy for our team.’’

Mara has been working with the players, frequently skating with them in the Boston area between camps. From the moment he first stepped on the ice during the camp in December, Mara has been hooked on his new venture.

”The skill level and speed and how talented they were, and working with them, it’s easy to coach them,’’ Mara said. “You tell them once and they do it, where as working with high school kids this year sometimes it takes 10 or 15 times and they still don’t do it. But with them, they are like sponges, they want to learn, they want to get better.’’

For head coach Robb Stauber – a former NHL goaltender with Los Angeles and Buffalo – Mara bought in right away to everything the program believes in when it comes to trying to build the right team. In many ways, it’s been a perfect fit for both parties.

”Like a lot of former NHL players we’ve been fortunate to have around the program, they love the way we play,’’ said Stauber, who has been on the coaching staff since 2010 and was named head coach prior to the Winter Camp in December said. “I think guys like Paul, when they come in and see it, it’s so easy to get excited. And you have to be excited about what we are doing, otherwise it’s not a great fit.’’

The ideals and ideas have to mesh with the philosophies of U.S.A. hockey.

”At the end of the day, you really like our vision and are really excited about it, or you have different philosophies, and that’s okay,’’ Stauber said. “We want, and have a group of people who are really excited about what we are doing.’’

And Mara is excited to be a part of the program, with Tampa, the place his professional playing days began, also the setting for where his coaching career will get off the ground when the team returns to the area starting in September for residency camp to prepare for the Winter Games.

”It’s kind of come full swing and it’s kind of ironic that my hockey career started in Tampa and now my coaching career is starting in Tampa,’’ Mara said. “So I’m really excited and a bunch of people back home are excited for me to start things in Tampa again.’’

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