Thunder steps back in time with Bourne

The Las Vegas Thunder decided if it wanted to move forward it had to take a few steps back -- in time.

The Thunder officially welcomed Bob Bourne as its new head coach on Tuesday with a press conference at the All-Star Cafe. Bourne, a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the New York Islanders, was the first assistant coach in Thunder history.

Las Vegas just completed its worst season. It went 33-39-10 and finished seventh among the eight Western Conference teams.

The dismal season was a far cry from 1993-94. That's when the Thunder earned the Huber Trophy as the regular-season champion with a 52-18-11 record in its first year of operation.

"It is our intention to recapture that excitement, that success," general manager Bob Strumm said. "To recapture that we had to bring back one of the originals."

Bourne, who resigned his role as assistant general manager and coach with the archrival Utah Grizzlies on Monday, signed a two-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Thunder also announced Rod Buskas, a defenseman on the Thunder's inaugural team, will be Bourne's assistant. Buskas was brought in last season as Clint Malarchuk's top aid. Malarchuk left the Thunder three weeks ago to guide Idaho of the West Coast Hockey League.

Bourne, 44, is aware of the Thunder's dissent in recent years and is eager to return the team to its former glory. The Thunder also won the Huber Trophy in 1995-96 with a 57-17-8 mark for 122 points, the third best in IHL history.

"The most obvious thing to me watching the Thunder last year," Bourne said, "was the guys didn't look like they wanted to play. The first year, when we lost it almost was like a shock. We had such a good team, and it was a positive atmosphere."

According to Bourne, the key to championship hockey is character.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach "Kevin Constantine once told me the definition of character is how you act when no one else is watching," Bourne said. "I want players who are going to work an extra 20 minutes on the ice whether I'm there or not.

"There are so many phonies out there. They only work hard when you're looking."

Bourne will have considerable input on what players will be at his disposal. Only four -- right wing Patrice Lefebvre, center Joe Day, defenseman Alexander Alexeev and goaltender Konstantin Simchuk -- are under contract for 1998-99.

Bourne was quick to answer when asked what positions are most important to fill.

"Goalie and defensemen," Bourne said. "It's important to keep the puck out of the net if you're going to win.

"I want a physical hockey team. I don't want goons out there, but we don't want anybody to come into our building and not dread it. When you ask teams around the league the last place they want to play, I want them to say 'Vegas.'"

Strumm insisted Bourne will have higher quality players to work with than Chris McSorley and Malarchuk did last season.

"We got a little bit complacent with our (player) evaluations," Strumm said. "We slipped a little. I think maybe in evaluating talent we passed over some intangibles and placed too much emphasis on talent."

Bourne has only one season of experience as a head coach, yet still possesses an impressive resume.

He coached Central Texas of the Western Professional Hockey League to the finals in 1996-97. He left Las Vegas for Utah along with head coach Butch Goring, whom he assisted in 1994-95 and again last year.

But he made his biggest impact away from the bench. He was named Sports Illustrated's co-Sportsman of the Year in 1988 for his contributions to charity.

Bourne played 14 seasons in the NHL with the Islanders and Los Angeles Kings, recording 258 goals and 324 assists in 964 regular-season games.

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