Lakers Name Joe Byrne Jr Head Coach

Joe Byrne Jr (left) has been named the new head coach of the Wallaceburg Lakers

The Wallaceburg Lakers have named Joe Byrne Jr their new head coach.

Byrne is one-third of the Lakers’ new Byrne Laus Hockey Corporation ownership group.

The move was made official by Lakers GM Ritch Kanally with an announcement sent to 99.1 CKXS and CKSN.ca on Monday afternoon.

Kanally said he feels Joe’s hockey history makes him a more than suitable option behind the bench.

“Byrne has coached in the Victory Honda system which is a very successful program,” said Kanally. “Joe has also played at the Major Junior level.”

Ritch added it was not the Lakers’ intention to name Byrne Jr as head coach this season. “The resignation of Derek Ellis put us in a position to name Joe as head coach. Although we tried, we were not able to find an experienced Jr C coach.”

A short list of assistant coaches is currently under review.

Former head coach Derek Ellis, along with assistants Ryan Paxton and Steve Gagner resigned from their positions a week after the new ownership group was announced.