Washipabano: 'It's really going to help us in the long run'

MONTREAL -- Charly Washipabano was a guest coach at Development Camp last month at the Bell Sports Complex.

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Washipabano is the director of the Cree Nation Bears hockey program in Northern Quebec.
The program, which participates in Hockey Abitibi-Témiscamingue (HAT) leagues in the U13, U15 and U17 categories, focuses on developing the best available minor hockey players from nine Cree communities in James Bay, and provides them with exposure to elite programs via league play and tournaments.
A Chisasibi, QC native, Washipabano also develops and certifies all coaches in the region.
We caught up with him to learn more about his work.
Here are some highlights from our conversation:
Washipabano on being invited to Development Camp, along with Cree prospect Israel Mianscum:
When I got the call and got the invite, once I hung up, I just sat there for a while just to soak it all in. The response I got when the press release came out was really touching and really humbling. People were all really encouraging. I'm happier for Israel, though, because it's a huge step for him as a player. I'm also hoping that this paves a small path for coaches to know that there's a path for them as well.

Washipabano on benefiting from his experience on the South Shore:
I can relay what I learned back to the Bears and the communities. It's a lot to take in, but I know I'll manage to put everything down so that I can continue serving the people I work with a little bit better. There were so many different coaches with different backgrounds from different levels of the organization, so I know I can make really good use of the information and fill in everyone else back home. I think it's really going to help us in the long run.
Washipabano on Mianscum's presence at Camp on a professional tryout (PTO):
Israel was actually part of our Cree Nation Bears development program. He went through it a couple of years before moving on to elite levels. He's a kid that we've followed for years and years, that we've all known about and cheered on every time he'd move up. Just judging by his talent, his drive, and the fact that he really improved and pushed himself to be here, it's something that he really earned. Israel is one of our better prospects to come out of our region in a really long time. It's cool to see. The response we saw when we found out he was coming was huge for everyone in our region, especially for kids.

Washipabano on the significance of these invitations from the Canadiens:
It's exposure that we really always strive for, as far as having players take those next steps. We live on one side of the coast of James Bay. The other coast had Jonathan Cheechoo years ago, which was huge for them. For us, Israel is becoming that beacon for us to really look for. I think it's also cool that we have someone more on a coaching side here. If others can come after me and soak this in, it would be huge for us. It's one thing to always have to rely on outside resources for elite coaching as far as our region is concerned, but if we can develop more coaches, and see them even move on to greater challenges, it would be really good exposure.
Washipabano on his message for people back home with hockey dreams:
It's pretty simple. It's here, it's attainable, it's doable. As long as you're willing to put in the effort, which I've seen myself and I'm sure that Israel has, I know there are other kids coming up behind him that aren't too far. It's doable, it's attainable, it's here to grasp if you want it bad enough. Even for coaches, if there are some coaches out there looking to really develop themselves and even maybe move on to not only help our program, but maybe even move on to a more elite level, then it's also here, too.