Lakers Fire Coaching Staff
After a dismal start to the season, the Wallaceburg Lakers have fired their entire coaching staff. 
The PJHL team went through an overhaul in the off-season, with new local ownership and a new executive named in the spring.
General Manager Ritch Kanally released a statement this morning, confirming the team had parted ways with its coaches.
“We wish Rick, Ed, Luke, and Justin all the best in the future endeavours. This year is crucial for the Lakers and after losing the last 6 games and with nearly 25% of the season gone we needed to make a change. ”
Port Huron’s John Hartig will be taking over behind the bench.
The Lakers sit in last place in the Stobbs Division with a record of 1-and-7 this season.
I certainly appreciate the dilemma that Ritch Kanally was put in for the Lakers, but surely the coaching staff is not the main problem. Rick Vancoillie is a proven winner in many other coaching situations where he has been and knows how to win. You can’t turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse overnight. This team has been struggling for a while now. It would have been nice to allow a bit more time to see if things could get turned around under Rick’s capable leadership.
We had local coaching building a local team with local players from the two communities of Wallaceburg and Walpole Island.Our two communities were behind this team.We knew we had a lot of younger players there and it was a building process.These coaches were cheated out of there chance to make a real difference for this team and this town.Rick is a proven winner and Luke has more knowledge in hockey than anyone in the area with Jr A and AHL experience.As much as this upsets me we welcome the new coaches with open arms and hope they succeed.If they are not Skip and the rest of the old boys club should resign in disgrace.Its easy to coach from the sidelines a little harder in the trenches.This was the worst move in Laker history.
yes quite often the actual people that get thrown out is because of improper management and not actually the people thrown out, its wierd finding the root of the problem hmmmmm
In fact I’m quite sure its Ritch’s management skills that did the final blow. Time to revamp the system…
Ritch is the speaker of the house.Its the president and the unfit committee who is responsible for this move.
The lakers will not excel in this division, the overhaul was more of a “package deal” picking up AMERICAN players in a clear deal with these players to come play along with the coaches. This is a crooked executive and organization. Sure, you can attempt to make the playoffs but it will not happen like this since they will fly through these coaches just as quickly as the first. I personally hope this team will fold! Well done lakers! Staying local was certainly the goal here.
It’s going to be difficult for a new coach coming in this stage of the game.They should have left the coaching staff on the rest of the season,didn’t think your going to see any improvements in the standings .
This move does not make sense. The management put these men in place, and you can’t win a chess match with only pawns on the board. It’s a rebuild, it doesn’t matter how talented the coaching staff is, until the same people who did the firing get better players to come to town.
Poor treatment of locals. It’s time the executive goes, and understands they know nothing, and I mean nothing, about hockey.
Well said.I agree completely!They have the talent there just need time to grow.
Why would the GM fire the coaching staff by text?
The GM was not at fault it was the incompetent committee vote!
Not sure where you got your information – the entire coaching staff stood behind their head coach- like a team should and quit when the executive whispered firing the coach. Also it should be noted that not one of these gentlemen were ever paid a nickel for their time nor expenses. RtB hit the nail on the head. The organization has no money and cannot compete with centres that are offering signing bonuses.
I’m currently loving the new coaches progress, seemingly impeccable!
Said the blind man!
Disappointing to say the least.. changing up a coaching staff a quarter of the way through the season.. that creates a doomed environment.. since the coaching changes there has been NO coaching for the goalies.. the players are walking on eggshells thinking they are next to be cut..the TEAM atmosphere is simply not there..