Take Ten: with Ron Choules, head coach of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Published Tuesday September 2nd, 2008
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(Editor's Note: Featured this week is Ron Choules, head coach of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Titan opened training camp last Friday and play their first game of the 2008-'09 season against Saint John on Sept. 12 at the K. C. Irving Regional Centre.)

Q: Country or rock and roll?

Rock and roll. Pearl Jam and Led Zeppelin, stuff like that. Country once in a while. Believe it or not, one of the best shows I've ever been to is Garth Brooks. I guess a little bit of both but if I have a choice it is rock.

Q: Favourite food?

I like a variety of food. We have chicken and pasta on the bus all the time, so is it a favourite of mine, no, but it is what I eat. I like Mexican food a lot. Being from Montreal we have quite a variety to choose from.

Q: What is your pet peeve?

Laziness, moping, people who aren't happy to be around. That is one thing that annoys me, especially in hockey. My first practice, when I came here last year, I told the kids to put smiles on their faces because this is the best game on earth and you're not in science class, you're in hockey. There are a lot of worse things you could be doing in life so smile.

Q: Favourite hobbies?

I'm a big horse racing fan, harness racing and thoroughbred racing. I follow horse racing, I'm into breeding and I like studying pedigrees. I used to own harness racing horses. I love that actually. I owned them, groomed them and bred them. The Kentucky Derby, the Breeders Cup, you'll find me watching those races. I tape them actually, and I have tapes from many years back of all those races.

Q: Favourite movie?

Probably my favourite movie is Field of Dreams. It is about sport, it is about life in general, so that is a good one to motivate the kids. I have a lot of DVD's right here (in the office) and I use them to motivate the guys. I'm a big Russell Crowe fan, too. I like all his movies.

Q: Favourite holiday?

I'm not really a holiday guy. I'm from a big family, but believe it or not, I'm not really a big Christmas guy. I like doing my own stuff.

Q: Favourite way to spend vacation?

My ultimate vacation would be to go down to Kentucky and watch the races there and go to Churchill Downs. Anything to do with horse racing.

Q: Who do you admire?

Admiration is a big word for me. Of course I admire my parents, but I admire people who basically come from nothing and are never satisfied. I told the kids last year that it is okay to be happy, but don't be satisfied. It is easy when you achieve something to rest on your laurels. During the Olympics, I was in awe of (medal winning) swimmer Dara Torres of the U.S. She is 41-years-old and for her to do that at her age is absolutely incredible.

Q: Best advice you've ever received?

Be yourself at all times and work hard. It is okay to fail, just get back up and keep going. I've always lived my dreams, everything I've wanted to do in life I've done so far.

Q: Best thing about living in the Chaleur region?

I think it is great to see a different part of the country. It snowed a lot when I got here last year, but to see it in the summertime it is everything that I've heard about it. It is a gorgeous area and the people are fascinating. I think it is a very unique part of the country, and I'm glad I'm here. And I'm glad I saw it with no snow.

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