Derek Ellis Returns To Lakers Coaching Staff

Former Wallaceburg Lakers head coach Derek Ellis is back behind the bench in the ‘Burg.

Ellis returns to the Lakers coaching staff as an assistant and will be behind the bench Wednesday night in Wallaceburg for a home game against Mooretown.

Lakers GM Ritch Kanally supplied the information in a statement from the organization, adding that assistant coach Ryan Hope has stepped down from his position with the club. Joe Byrne Jr will stay on as head coach.

“Derek has Jr coaching experience and is familiar with some of the guys in our locker room,” said Kanally. Ritch added that Ellis will assist in the development of the Lakers players.

Ellis was named the head coach of the Lakers near the tail end of last season following the departure of former head coach and GM Mark Swayze. Ellis, along with assistants Ryan Paxton and Steve Gagner all resigned from the club in April following a ” disconnect on the hockey side of the program”.

Derek, from Dresden, returned to the organization Monday night at a team practice. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Lakers from 2013-2015.

The Lakers are 1-14-1 approaching the mid-point of the season.