J.J. McQueen was along for the ride back in the '80s when Ken Hitchcock lost almost 200 pounds, so he knows a thing or two about keeping the veteran coach healthy.
The returning Stars coach isn't 44 like he was when he first took over the team in 1996. He's 65, so his tendency to yo-yo with his weight brings more concern. The job of an NHL coach is stressful, and Hitchcock said he's well aware of the challenges. But he added that having people such as McQueen around will be wonderful.
"Me and J.J., we've known each other forever, so he will help me and he will push me," Hitchcock said of the longtime conditioning coach with whom he worked when Hitchcock was head coach of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League from 1984-90.