Monday, May 17, 2010

Oil Kings Coach Search Down to Five

It's pretty hard not to bump into a scout, GM or Coach from any level of hockey here in Brandon at the Mastercard Memorial Cup, and thankfully they all hang out behind the media section. That's where I found out tonight the search to replace Steve Pleau as Oil Kings head coach is down to 5 guys, and none have recent WHL experience.


One has Junior A experience and if you didn't guess Steve Hamilton you must have been living under a rock for the last while. Another has NHL, while another hails from the ECHL. My sources tell me Alberta Golden Bears head coach Eric Thurston is a candidate as well. The Oil Kings haven't talked to Montreal Canadiens assistant Perry Pearn yet, but G.M. Bob Green will likely make a phone call to see if he has any interest after the Habs unscheduled playoff run wraps up.

Green hasn't conducted any interviews just yet, but that process will start shortly.

One other note, goaltending consultant Lyle Mast wasn't part of the coaching purge, and the Oil Kings would love to have him back next year to work with Cam Lanigan and incoming pipeman Laurent Broissoit.

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