Lakers Release Another Statement Following Criticism

The Wallaceburg Lakers decision to fire their coaching staff last week after only eight games this season came under heavy criticism from local hockey fans.

Most saw the decision as premature, firing successful local coach Rick Vancoille, and worse, saw the way the executive and management did the firing, as unprofessional. They chose to replace Vancoille with Port Huron’s John Hartig.

In light of these concerns, Wallaceburg Lakers president Paul Turner released a secondary statement Monday morning to media.

“The Lakers Organization has come under scrutiny for decisions made in the past week regarding our coaching staff. Tough decisions need to be made to grow an organization and we support the decision of our management team. We wish Rick Vancoille and the previous coaching staff well in their future endeavours,” he wrote.

“We look forward to working with John Hartig and our new coaching staff as we continue to solidify our foundation as an organization. As individuals, we may not always share the same point of view, but as an organization we share the same vision. Each member, from parents to players, management to coaching staff, executive to investors, continue to be 100% invested in the Wallaceburg Lakers Organization and its success. We thank our community for their continued support and share their pride in this local team. We move forward with ‘old traditions, new ambitions’.”

The Wallaceburg Lakers fired Vancoille, who was the last local coach to win an OMHA title with the Wallaceburg’s Midgets, after a 1-7-0 start.

Most in the local hockey world, including their former coaching staff, would agree however, that the Wallaceburg Lakers are heavily undertalented in comparison to their competition across the PJHL Stobbs Division, leading to confusion whether coaching, or the executive and management were to blame for the slow start.

The Wallaceburg Lakers last made the playoffs in 2010-2011, when they finished first overall in the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League with a 30-8-2 record. Since then, they’ve finished in 9th place, and out of the playoffs for 6 straight seasons, winning only 38 games in that span.

Wallaceburg was purchased this offseason by a local group, spearheaded by Jim McCrae.

Wallaceburg has a favourable week on their schedule, facing Wheatley on the road tonight, before hosting Petrolia in Wallaceburg on Wednesday.

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  • comment-avatar
    ZV 7 years

    This is still a joke, I’m sure we can all agree that these new coaches will not make a difference!

  • comment-avatar
    Scott 7 years

    its actually the general manager that should be fired

  • comment-avatar
    No longer a fan 7 years

    I had originally thought sure.. as we had someone on the team.. perhaps this will help.. the joke was on us.. our son went to their home game on a Wednesday night.. started his routine.. getting his equipment ready.. was called into the coaches room where he was cut.. in front of his teammates he had to pack up his equipment mad leave so the new player could come in that they replaced him with . Completely unacceptable.. disappointing to say the least.. our son had been told how hard he was working.. to keep it up.. we were even told what a great kid he is and that he earned his spot on that team..he went to all of the practises.. games.. workouts and even volunteered at many events over the summer supporting local events for HIS team… what a way to let a 17 year old go from a team.. shame on you the GMs and coaches.. wallaceburg should be embarrassed..