Tuesday 11 April 2017

OHL Head Coaching Candidates

With Jarrod Skalde out as the head coach we will have some movement on the coaching front in the OHL this season. Will there be more? It is hard to speculate, you would have to think this is the year an NHL team takes Knoblach away from Erie whether it be as an AHL HC or an NHL AC. 

Now this is by no means a list of who I think will be tasked with taking over these programs but a list of coaches who I feel are worthy of a look from OHL coaches. My list last year (which was more Hamilton Bulldogs centric) contained the names of James Richmond and Ryan Oulahan who were both able to nab head coaching jobs. 



Jr A and Jr B coaches

Hires in recent year from this group include former coach of the year Sheldon Keefe who joined the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from the CCHL. Todd Gill is another coach who made the jump from Jr A to the OHL and not to be forgotten a name you will see later on in this list but the Barrie Colts plucked an upstart coach from the OJHL named Marty Williamson who has had a taste of success as a coach in the OHL. Here are a couple of names in the Jr A ranks that are deserving of an OHL look.

Jason Clarke Carleton Place Canadians CCHL

After 4 straight regular season titles and 3 straight CCHL championships you would have to think it is only a matter of time before Jason Clarke gets hired by an OHL team. On top of the 3 consecutive CCHL titles is 3 Fred Page Cup chamiponships which has lead to 3 straight births in the RBC cup which is Canadas national Jr A championship.

Clarke was also head coach of Team Canada East at this years World Jr A challenge leading the team to a Silver medal in an event which was Canada East's best finish since 2012.

Clarke was awarded the Coach of the year in the CCHL in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Recent CCHL coach of the year winners to have advanced to the OHL include Sheldon Keefe, Todd Gill and Chris Byrne.

Mark Jooris Burlington Cougers OJHL

After a playing career that saw him play play 4 years with RPI in the NCAA and a pro career in Finland, Germany and Switzerland Mark settled back in his home town of Burlington to Coach the Cougars in 2009-10. In that season he led the Cougars to one of their best seasons and took home the Western Conference coach of the year honours. The next season he was in Oakville and the following season in Markham. After which he was out of coaching before returning to the Burlington Cougars. In 2015-16 he led the Cougars to a 47 point improvement and took home the leagues coach of the year honours. This season he finished 2nd in the voting for OJHL coach of the year after leading the Cougars to a franchise record in wins. Now a HC position may be a bit of a stretch at this point but I would not be surprised if he ends up as an OHL assistant specifically with Hamilton.

Jordan Smith Soo Thunderbirds NOJHL

A Sault Ste Marie native and former Soo Greyhound who was drafted by the Anahiem Ducks in the 2nd round in 2004. Smith finished 3rd in the voting for the Max Kaminsky Trophey his final year in the OHL. Smith would have his playing career cut short due to a freak eye injury as a 20 year old. A situation that cut short the playing career of another Saulite Paul Maurice who also went into coaching.

After his eye injury however Smith played for 5 seasons at Lakehead University. Affer which he took on a coaching role with the Thunder Bay North Starts in the SIJHL. The following season Soo Thunderbirds GM Kevin Cain came calling to bring Smith home to the Soo. From 2013-16 Smith would accumulate a record of 143-18-2-9. The Thunderbirds would also make 2 appearences in the Dudley Hewitt Cup and 1 RBC cup appearence.

After an ownership change before the 2016 season Smith took on the GM duties along with his role as head coach.

Under his watch the Thunderbirds helped develop the likes of Boris Katchouk and Nic Sicoly in their 16yo seasons before advancing the OHL. Mario Culina earned an OHL contract as a Free Agent and Owen Headrick would jump to the NCAA as an 18 year old and star with Lake Superior State (before signing with Erie this past January).

OHL Assistant Coaches

Surprise coach of the year candidate Dave Bell and shockingly ommitted coach of the year candidate Ryan Oulahan and Steelheads HC James Richmond are all former OHL assistants who became head coaches last season.

Jason Fortier Kitchener Rangers

2 time OJHL coach of the year with the the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots. Spent last season as an assosiote coach with the QMJHL champion Ryoun-Noranda Huskies. Spent this year in the same position on the upstart Kitchener Rangers coaching staff.

Dylan Hunter London Knights

Former captain and star of the London Knights with 2 100 point seasons under his belt. After 239 AHL and 67 ECHL games he retired and joined his dad behind the bench with the Knights. He is currently completing his 6th season as an assistant learning under Dale. Fans will point to his name and say he is only where he is because of his last name but that takes away from his accomplisments. He taken advantage of his oppertunities and should be ready for a new challange.

Joe Cirella Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds

14 years of OHL coaching expierience including the last 4 years as the assosiote coach on the Greyhounds staff that has seen 3 West Division titles. At 53 Cirella is the oldest on this list without any OHL head coaching expierience. He has done a pheonomial job at all his stops in the OHL. There is no doubt that he is worthy of a Head Coaching oppertunity but you have to wonder if it is what he wants at this point in his career.

Former Coaches

There is something to be said about experience and this is something that these coaches bring to the table that other candidates do not. Bringing in a former HC isn't always about recycling a former option. There are times when a former HC is the perfect candidate and can help build on what has been started. Last year the Hamilton Bulldogs brought in John Gruden after he was disposed as HC in Flint.

Marty Williamson

Former Barrie Colts and Niagara IceDogs head coach. Before taking last season off after being disposed as the Niagara HC he had been the head man behind and OHL bench for the last 12 seasons. In those 12 seasons his teams won a total of 16 playoff series and accumulated a regular season record of 457-296-63. Williamson however doesn't come without question marks. Health issues arose during his final few seasons with the Icedogs. On top of that he held a dual HC/GM role with Niagara. Is that something he would need at his next stop? Is that a position he can continue to thrive in as he gets older? He has a career playoff record of 1-12 vs the Western Conference. Is he someone who mearly took advantage of a weak Eastern Conference and couldn't compete with the big boys?

George Burnett

Speculation he may end up in Guelph where he coached in the '97-'98 season. Burnett has 20 years of OHL head coaching expierience dating back to the 89-90 season. Spent the past season in Flint as the GM where they seem to be building something special with current HC Ryan Oulahan. Since the 09-10 season his teams have only won 2 playoff rounds, missed the playoffs 3 times and have been ousted in the 1st round 3 times. Is coaching the best thing for him at this point in his career or is he more suited to concentrate on the GM duites where he has thrived in Flint. It is possible just having the HC hat will allow him to thrive in that role if he so desires.


CIS Head Coaches

Chris Dennis

Head coach of the York University Lions. Dennis was an assistant coach with Team Canada Black at the recent U17 in Sault Ste. Marie where he picked up a silver medal. He has been the head coach at York University for the past 2 seasons. Before that he spent 2 seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs after a number of years as their video coach. He brings with him an interesting resume that could pique the interest of an OHL owner. At the very least he would be a home run of a hire as an associate coach if a team could convince him to make that move.

Former Players

This is a tricky catagory to project success. These players have the expierience and knowledge of what to do to get to the next level but that doesnt always translate into on ice success. Some recent examples of former players to make the jump into the HC role include Darien Hatcher in Sarnia, Bob Boughner in Windsor, Scott Walker in Guelph (he did have half a season as an AC under his belt) and Dale Hunter in London.

Todd Bertuzzi

I don't feel he is as viable of an OHL head coaching candidate as the others on the list. However his name may make him stick out to an Owner and right now that is all that sticks out on his resume is his name. He has spent the past 2 seasons as the head coach of the U16 Oakland Jr Grizzlies but that hardly sticks out when comparing expiereince to the other candidates. A former player like Todd Harvey makes more sense due to his 4 years of OHL coaching expierience.



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