Being a coach was never on his radar. He never thought it would become a part of his life.
Turns out that coaching hasn't just become a part of Myles Fee's life, it has become one of the biggest parts. Growing up in Dauphin, Myles grew up playing within the local Minor Hockey Association and when it was time to play with the big boys at the next level, he did just that.
From 1998 to 2002, Myles played 180 games with the Kings, scoring 15 times and adding 60 assists. During the 2001-02 season, Fee's last as a member of his hometown junior team, he was named to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's (MJHL) third all-star team after a season that saw him score a career-high 11 goals while also adding a career-high 32 assists. Standing in at a towering 6'5", Myles was always a player who stood up for his teammates, which saw him rack up 273 penalty minutes during his tenure with the team.
Myles then packed up his bags and moved to Purchase, New York, where he would join their Division 3 hockey team, the Manhattanville College Valiants. Myles went on to play 37 games with the Valiants and it was during his time at Manhattanville that he started to discover the video side of the game. One thing led to another and just two years removed from his time in Manhattanville, Myles joined the New York Rangers as an intern.
Myles's time in New York led him to become video coach for the Edmonton Oilers where he would spend seven years. Also getting a chance to join Paul Maurice's Team Europe for the World Cup of Hockey during the 2016-17 season, Myles once again was on the move as he signed with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League to become their video coach. Now we move ahead to the 2018-19 season, still, as video coach of the Checkers, the team won the Atlantic Division regular season crown with 51 wins and 110 points.
As hockey fans know, the playoffs are a different beast. Regular season success does not always translate to playoff success; however, there are instances where it does. That year just happened to be one that it did.
Fee and the remainder of the coaching staff put together a great game plan in their first-round best-of-five series as they beat Providence in four games before sweeping the Hershey Bears and that led the Checkers to beat the Toronto Marlies in six games.
After dropping game one of the Calder Cup final against the Chicago Wolves, Charlotte caught fire as they won four straight games and on Saturday, June 8, 2019, Myles stormed the ice after the final buzzer as Charlotte downed Chicago, 5-3, to claim AHL glory.
"Winning that championship was quite the feat, an incredibly special feeling," said Fee, looking back at the championship run. "My time in Charlotte allowed me to grow, it gave me a voice, and a reason to talk in the coaches' room."
Following that title-winning season, Myles was back in the big leagues as a video coach for the Buffalo Sabres, where he would spend two seasons. Then on August 10, 2022, Myles was Sunrise-bound as he was set to rejoin Paul Maurice on the Florida Panthers. Continuing as a video coach for Florida, Myles was thrilled to be back with Paul.
"Paul is seven layers above everyone else and he's so kind about it, he is so knowledgeable and prepared," said Fee. "He does everything with a purpose. It is a joy to work with a man who loves the game as much as Paul does."
In his first year with Florida, the Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup final; however, they lost to Vegas. They say playoff experience is key and Florida had just that. They were three games away from winning the biggest prize in the hockey world so they knew that there was something to prove this year.
Florida came out and won 52 games in the regular season to win the Atlantic Division crown by one point. Ironically enough, Fee was with Charlotte when they won the Atlantic Division regular season crown and they then went on to win the league title.
This was a case of deja-vue. Florida dispatched Tampa Bay in five games, Boston in six games, and the Rangers in six games to advance to the Stanley Cup final. Going up against the Edmonton Oilers, it was all Florida early as they put the Oilers on the brink of elimination after just three games.
Connor McDavid and the Oilers stormed back winning three straight games to force a game seven in Sunrise.
"There was zero panic, we talked about game seven at training camp," said Fee. "We had been building towards that moment for two years. We were built for game seven."
Tied at one in the second period, Sam Reinhart's wrist shot from the right circle beat Stuart Skinner as Florida opened up a 2-1 lead and they never looked back with Sergei Bobrovsky shutting the door the rest of the way as Florida won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Just like he did in Charlotte, Fee once again had the chance to storm the ice and what a feeling it was.
"There are a lot of emotions that go with it, the highs and lows," said Fee. "At the end of the day, just utter joy. It was amazing sitting around with the guys after and celebrating, just a storybook ending to an incredible year."
Lisa and Warren Fee are now making their way to Sunrise to join Myles for the team's championship parade which takes place this Sunday.
"This is our last moment as a full group, things change from season to season with contracts and whatnot," said Fee. "It's going to be an electric atmosphere and I'm looking forward to spending the day with everyone."
When Barry Trotz guided Washington to a championship in 2018, he brought the Stanley Cup to Dauphin. Myles is hoping he can do the same.
"The lifelong dream has always been to bring it back to Dauphin where it all began, my parents deserve a moment with the Cup for all their sacrifices," ended Fee. "I would love to share it with the community as well just as Barry did. That has always been the goal and the plan, so I just have to see how it all unfolds with the team."
