Marc Swayze Named New Lakers Coach and GM
The Wallaceburg Lakers will have a new head coach this coming season as Marc Swayze will take over the coaching and GM roles – Photo by Kelsey Vermeersch/ CKSN.ca
Swayze last held a bench boss position when he was the coach and general manager for the Dresden Jr. Kings in 2012-2013. Swayze was contacted by new Wallaceburg president Jim McCrea about the position, and the two sides quickly came to an agreement.
“I was called late last week after Wallaceburg’s AGM. Jim McCrea told me he’d be Wallaceburg’s president, and wanted to know if I’d be interested in their open roles,” explained Swayze.
“We met Sunday to go over things, it went well, and the direction they wanted to take the Lakers was something that interested me. McCrea mentioned that when I went into Dresden a few seasons ago, they had missed the playoffs the year prior, and I got them there, and that’s what they want to see here.”
The Wallaceburg Lakers finished with a 6-31-0-3, last place in the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League, and have not qualified for the playoffs since the 2010-2011 season.
With that in mind, Swayze knows turning the team around in Wallaceburg won’t be easy, and will take a complete culture shift.
“Obviously it’s not going to be an easy job,” said Swayze. “The last few seasons have been a struggle, but the potential is there. We need to change the culture and attitude around the Lakers and want to make sure we’re a difficult team to play against every night.”
Swayze also served as the head coach for the Chatham Maroons, ending his tenure there in 2010.
Swayze replaced Ken Shine, who after serving as Wallaceburg’s head coach last season has joined the Blenheim Blades as a co-coach.
The Lakers will have a spring skate in the coming weeks to begin forming their team.