Wayne Cowell Returns to Blenheim Blades as New General Manager

Blenheim BladesThings have come full circle for Chatham’s Wayne Cowell who was named the Blenheim Blades new general manager Tuesday.

Cowell, 57, who resigned from a similar role with the Dresden Kings following the end of the Kings Great Lakes Junior ‘C’ Hockey League season, began his association with Junior hockey as a player with the Blades in the early 1970s.

From there he took up coaching minor hockey in Blenheim in 1977 at the request of the late Jim Torrie, and later moved on to the Junior ranks in Chatham, Blenheim and Dresden where he has been for the last decade and a half in the role at various times as head coach and/or GM. In all he has coached or been a GM for 33 years.

Cowell was head coach of the Chatham Maroons for the 1991-92 season and part of the 1992-93 campaign, and was an assistant coach under Dave Torrie when the Blades went to the Great Lakes final in the 1994-95 season.

That season was the last time the Blades won a playoff round.

Also joining Cowell with the Blades from the Kings staff are former assistant general manager Bruce Clark, Pete Knights, as goalie coach, and Jason Hope as marketing/special events co-ordinator.

The trio will be working with Blades head coach Bob McNear and assistant coach Paul Warriner. McNear played for Cowell on the 1994-95 team.

Two other Blades assistant coaches from last year – Todd Warriner and Bill Miletic – have not made final decisions about returning at this time.Last year’s general manager Bill Saunders will remain with the team as director of hockey operations, while assistant general manager Mitch Pickering will not be back after resigning in mid-April.

“This is huge news as far as the Blades are concerned,” said Saunders. “Wayne’s experience will play a key role with our club and we are delighted to have him, Pete and Jason on board.”

McNear agreed with Saunders saying, “Wayne’s experience, knowledge and ability to attract players will play a major role in our success. It is great to have him working for the Blades.”

“He is the best at what he does, and will be crucial to helping the Blades move forward. Blenheim is where he belongs.”

“I have great respect for Wayne as a person and a coach,” continued McNear,” I loved playing for him because we were, and still are, so much alike on and off the ice.”

CKSN will publish the second half of this story, an interview with Wayne Cowell, tomorrow morning. Continue to watch CKSN for all of your Chatham-Kent hockey news.

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