Coach Plans Not to Return After Remarkable Red Devils Run

For many in Wallaceburg, watching the Jr. B Wallaceburg Red Devils battle and upset their way to the OLA Western Conference final this season was an unforgettable experience.

The season wasn’t just unforgettable for fans, it’s one that head coach Jamie Knight won’t forget either, and at the end of the day, is proud of.

“We had to overcome a lot of adversity as far as injuries and suspensions so finishing 13-7 in the regular season was in my eyes over achieving,” said Knight. “With a full roster come playoffs, I was confident we could make a run and thought we were as good as any team.”

His prediction came true as the Wallaceburg Red Devils upset the Spartans (St. Catherines), followed by the London Blue Devils, and then took the Six Nations Rebels to five games, which included Wallaceburg leading the series 3-games-to-2.

“The key to our playoff run was everybody chipping in, in some way and every player buying into the team comes first mentality,” explained Knight about his team’s unprecedented run. “Never say die, we were very resilient and came back from big deficits. Down 7-1 to London and won, clawed back in game 4 versus Six Nations too, very proud of my boys for that.”

In the end however, it wasn’t enough, and now, Knight plans to step away from the Red Devils, and go back to his real passion, coaching minor lacrosse in Wallaceburg.

“As far as next year goes, this was planned before this season that it was a one year deal, that I would work with our young coaches then hand the team over.”

“I think that the Red Devils are in very capable hands, if Steve (Lilley) and Kyle (VanDamme) plan on returning.”

Overall, Knight says the experience is one he won’t soon forget, but not for the wins. In Knight’s eyes, it was the development of players, and watching the success of Wallaceburg’s minor athletes as they stepped up to the next level, that has made him proud, and is the reason he wants to go back to coaching youth.

“It was an awesome run and it was a summer I’ll never forget,” said Knight. “Even better than finishing in the Western Conference finals this year, was watching a lot of boys I’ve coached throughout minor, become men. Makes me a very proud coach.”