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Terry Bell
The Province
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
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Peter Twist
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Business must be booming for
Peter Twist ... really booming.
Twist is leaving his position as strength and conditioning coach with
the Canucks in midseason to pursue his business, Twist Conditioning Inc.
"I was inclined toward this decision three years ago, with the birth of
my daughters and the expanding of my business," Twist, who was in his
10th season with the Canucks, said in a statement released Monday.
"My kids are the primary reason, my business provides the option."
Twist, who didn't return phone calls Monday from The Province, is
considered an innovator in his field. He'll continue to be available to
help the team on a consulting basis.
The timing of his departure may seem more than just a little odd. The
Canucks are enjoying their best season since Twist joined them.
"Peter has raised the NHL bar for strength and conditioning," said
Canucks president and general manager Brian Burke.
"But time commitments with his own successful business and his young
family won't provide him with the individual time he needs with our
players in coming years.
"It was felt by both sides that this was the best time for Peter to
focus his efforts on his personal initiatives, while it gives us time to
hire a new conditioning coach before the offseason, when intense
training is vital."
The Canucks have brought in Mark Morris, a long-time friend of Canucks
head coach Marc Crawford, to assist them while they search for a
replacement.
Morris, a native of Massina, N.Y., had coached for 15 years at Clarkson
University.
"I'm not quite sure what my role is, but I'm feeling my way around,"
said Morris, who was on the ice with the team Sunday at Burnaby 8-Rinks.
"I got the call last week from Marc. I'd been out of work for a little
bit and I'm just looking for an opportunity to help out if I can."
"He'll help us out while we do what we have to do and make a
replacement," said Crawford.
"It's important for us to make a good hire. The guy will have big shoes
to fill. We all understand Peter's reasons for leaving."
Crawford said a committee of management, coaching and medical staff will
begin work to find a replacement in time for summer conditioning.
Twist will be missed.
"He told us that since he started having kids [he has two daughters, Zoe
and MacKenzie] his business interests and being a coach here made a lot
of demands on his time," said winger Trent Klatt, a father of five.
"He said he needed more time with his family and I guess it was easier
for him to do Twist Conditioning.
"He has a lot of insights. He's a guy who's able to help us with our
concerns as far as conditioning and being ready to play. It'll be a loss
to have Twister gone, but he's passed a lot on to the rest of us."
"I think it was mutual," said forward Brendan Morrison.
"He's put a lot into this team and got a lot of guys on the right track
conditioning-wise.
"But he has the other business and I think, being his own boss, he'll be
able to spend a lot of time with his family."
© Copyright 2002 The Province
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