“Hitchcock on Berube: ‘He Made Himself Into a Coach Without Losing His Core Values'”…
“We spent a lot of time together,” said Hitchcock, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last year. “Craig really dedicated himself to learning about coaching and studied various coaches. I gave him many tasks to work on, and he was extremely diligent. He made himself into a coach while retaining his core values as a player, which is quite impressive.”
A tough winger, Berube played one junior season under Hitchcock in Kamloops (1985-86). They began their NHL careers together in Philadelphia, with Hitchcock joining as an assistant coach in 1990, just as the undrafted Berube was establishing himself as a regular NHL player.
They reconnected when Berube became an assistant with the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms while Hitchcock was coaching the Flyers.
“Their office was right down the hall from mine,” said Hitchcock. “I’ve always been an early riser, and Craig is the same. Many days, he was in his office before I arrived. I knew then that if given the opportunity, he would succeed because he was eager to learn, always seeking new information, and dedicated to understanding what it takes to be a good coach.”
