By Tim Marren

Ted Nolan hasn’t coached since he led the Buffalo Sabres to the Northeast Division title in 1996-97, but he said he hasn’t worked a day in his life.

“Find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life,” Nolan told a packed Assembly Hall in the Campbell Student Union of Buffalo State College.

Nolan spoke to dozens of people on topics ranging from his brief career in the National Hockey League to his coaching stint with the Sabres for which he was awarded the Jack Adams trophy as coach of the year.

The speech titled, “Having a vision and a dream,” was sponsored by the BSC Native American Student Organization in commemoration of April as Native American Heritage Celebration.

Nolan, an Ojibway Indian, said it was nice that NASO celebrated Native Americans for at least one month because he has been celebrating Native American blood for 45 years.

Making Decisions

Nolan’s spoke of the decision he had made to leave his home on the Garden River Reserve in Ontario to play hockey at 16 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In Winnipeg, Nolan said he felt racism for the first time and contemplated quitting and returning home.

“I can remember crying myself to sleep wondering why people would treat people with a different race differently,” he said.

Nolan said no to a return home.

“Certain times in life you are going to feel like quitting, and sometimes you will, but you have to persevere,” Nolan said.

Nolan played for three minor league teams in the late ‘70s. The Detroit Red Wings drafted him in the fifth round of the 1978 Amateur Draft. He played just 41 games before being sent back down to the minors. He was sent from the Red Wings to the minors and back again for a few years before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins where he later retired because of injury in 1986.

Fulfilling a dream

He went back to school and decided he wanted to coach.

“I wanted to be in the NHL and I got it. I wanted to coach and I got that,” he said.

Coaching didn’t come easy to Nolan either.

He began his coaching career where he began his minor league playing career with the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds, just under two miles from his hometown.

Sault St. Marie went from welcoming its hometown hero back as a coach to radio stations wanting him fired, Nolan said.

“They said I couldn’t coach. I knew I could coach,” Nolan said.

He later led the Greyhounds to two league championships and the national title in 1993.

Persevering

Nolan was head coach of the Hartford Whalers of the NHL for just half of a season before he landed a head coach position in Buffalo in 1995. A year later the Sabres won the Northeast Division title and he was offered just a one-year deal by management.

“I cried sometimes after being let go by Buffalo. It was the worst two years of my life,” Nolan said of the years following his time in Buffalo. “I had no control over it.”

A strong advocate of Nolan’s, was Jean Knox, widow of former Sabres owner Seymour Knox. She said he made hockey exciting in Buffalo.

“Ted was a wonderful person who could make his players play,” Knox said.

Knox was present at the speech and said she has continued a relationship with Nolan ever since his leaving Buffalo.

Knox rallied behind Nolan despite what rumors circulated as reasons for his being let go. Nolan said the comments got to him.

“You just have to feel good about yourself,” he said. “I am a very proud Ojibway man from First Nation.”

He hasn’t lost touch

Having Nolan present shows that he hasn’t lost touch with his heritage, according to NASO President Ryan King.

“It is an amazing feeling to have someone of his caliber to come and support Native Americans Month,” King said.

Lonnie Montour, NASO coordinator, said that the support for Native American Month has been overwhelming, specifically citing Nolan’s speech.

“It was like a dream to have so many in attendance,” Montour said. “It’s like a dream.”

Wondering what the future holds

Nolan said that God gave him the ability to work, so he has been looking for another chance to coach in the NHL.

Nolan is still unemployed but he said that every time a job opens up he makes phone calls, sends resumes and goes to interviews and still hears nothing.

“I end up asking myself what I have to do,” Nolan said. “I persevere.

“I miss the game but life goes on”

When asked if he could coach one team, his answer to loud applause- Buffalo.