Over the past few summers I have been posting lists of potential HC candidates who could fill roles in the OHL. It seems that head coach turnover is happening quicker and quicker but more so due to coaches getting plucked from the OHL to fill roles in the AHL. Not all on this list I feel would warrant HC interest this year, rather some I find to be head coaching prospects who could find themselves in the head role within the next few years.
Here is my list from the summer of 2016 which was more geared towards the Bulldogs opening and my list from last summer.
Jr A and Jr B coaches
BCHL - Jason Fortier - Coquitlam Express
Jason has been on my list every year so someone please hire this man so I can stop putting him on. He is a 2 time OJHL coach of the year as he took the Toronto Patrots to back to back Buckland cup titles. He also helped guided the Toronto Titans midget program to the Telus Cup. In 2015-16 he moved to Rouyn-Noranda where he was an assistant coach and helping lead the Huskies to the QMJHL title. in 2016-17 he was off the Kitchener where he lasted a year as their HC. Half way through last year he was hired by Coquitlam in the BCHL where he took a team that was 3-21-1-1 and had them finish 12-17-0-3 the rest of the way.
OJHL - Greg Walters - Georgetown Raiders (rumoured to be in line for the Generals job)
Former assistant coach with the Sarnia Sting from '02-'10. Since 2010-11 He has been the GM and Head Coach of the Georgetown Raiders. He has twice won the coach of the year award in the OJHL and in 2016-17 was named the CJHL coach of the year. Recent players that Walters has helped develop under his watch include David Miller, Michael McNiven, Santino Centorami, Darren Raddysh and current University of Michigan goalie Jack Lafontaine. While the Raiders may be considered the London Knights of the OJHL Western Conference due to their resource advantage it shouldn't take away from the job that Walters has been able to do from a development perspective.
OJHL - John Druce - Wellington Dukes
Druce took over as head coach of the Cobourg Cougars for hte start of the 2016-17 season. As hosts of the RBC cup he led the to the title. He led Cobourg to a 39-11-4 record in the regular season. Midway through the '17-'18 season he was let go by Cobourg after new management decided they wanted to bring someone else in. On January 5th he was brought in as head coach of the Wellington Dukes and led them to the OJHL title.
CCHL - Jason Clarke - Charelton Place Canadians.
Led the Charelton Place Canadians to a 52-5-4 record this year. In his time with the Canadians he has led them to 4 CCHL titles, 3 Fred Page Cup titles and they are a 3 time RBC cup finalist. He has also twice been head coach of Team Canada East for the World Jr A challenge. He has had unparalleled success in on of Canada's best Jr A leagues and would be a coup for whoever can pry him away and have him help lead their OHL team.
GOJHL - Jason Brooks - Listowel Cyclones
Former Head Coach and GM of the Guelph Storm. Spent time as an assistant with the Niagara Icedogs before back issues forced him to step away from the game. Returned to the bench after a 1 year hiatus as HC of the Listowel Cyclones of the GOJHL. in his 4 years at the helm he has led them to a GOJHL title and was named midwest conference coach of the year in 2016-17. He has OHL HC experience and had good successes in that role. It looks like his health issues are in the past and could be primed to make a return to the OHL.
GOJHL - Ken Peroff - Ancaster Avalanche
Ken will not be named a HC this summer. That said he is a name that you should remember. The former Battalion defender had a great first season has head coach in Ancaster. If he doesnt garner interest this year his name will definitely come up for Assistant positions next summer. He is a coach who has the development potential to nab a head coaching position in the next 5 years or so.
University Hockey
OUA - Marty Williamson - Brock Badgers
Former HC of the Niagara Icedogs and the Barrie Colts. His teams have made 3 OHL finals appearances. He was named OUA West coach of the year last season has been know to be interested in OHL openings in the past. The one question mark Williamson has is his health as he missed a significant chunk of time his final year in Niagara due to health concerns.
OUA - Brett Gibson - Queens Golden Gaels
Gibson has been the head coach at Queens since 05-06. He was hired after spending a year as an assistant coach with the Kingston Frontenacs. He is a 2 time OUA East coach of the year winner ('07-'08 and '13-'14) and a 1 time winner of the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award (CIS Coach of the Year). He also helped lead Canada to a bronze medal at the 2016-17 universiade. He was also an assistant coach on Team Canada White at last years U-17 challenge.
Former OHL Head Coachs
Bob Jones - Oshawa Generals/Windsor Spitfires
Jones has been coaching in the OHL since 1994-95 when he was an assistant with his hometown Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He was an associate coach with the Windsor Spitfires when they won back to back memorial cup titles. He spent 1 year has HC of Windsor where his claim to fame was getting into a bar fight in SSM and having his Mem Cup ring tossed into the St. Mary's river. he has most recently been HC in Oshawa where he helped lead the Young Oshawa Generals to a Division title in 2016-17. He missed all of last year due to health issues but says he has returned to health. His work with that young Generals squad from 2 years ago and the development they saw should make him an intriguing option.
OHL Assistant Coaches.
Jordan Smith - Sudbury Wolves
Just finished his first season in Sudbury as an associate coach with the Wolves. Before that he spent 4 years as the head coach of the Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHL. He was NOJHL coach of the year in 2013-14 and won the league title in 14-15 and 15-16. Some of the players developed under his watch with the Thunderbirds include Medric Mercier, Boris Katchouk and Mario Culina as well as the Pilon brothers.
Dave Matsos - Hamilton Bulldogs
Played in 3 memorial cups in the 90's as a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Got his coaching start in the EIHL before coming back to the OHL as an assistant coach with the Windsor Spitfires for 3 years starting in 2010. From there he moved on to Sudbury eventually becoming a mid-season coaching replacement in January 2015. He held the position for 2.5 seasons before being replaced upon an ownership change. This past season he was an associate coach with the Hamilton Bulldogs as they claimed the OHL title.
BJ Adams - Erie Otters
Has spent the past 3 seasons as a member of the Erie Otters coaching staff. The most recent season as an associate coach. He was also an assistant on Team Canada Red at the U17 hockey challenge. Before joining the Otters Adams was an assistant coach with Cansius College for 5 seasons.
Dylan Hunter - London Knights
The former Knights captain has been an assistant for 7 years. He does not get the respect he deserves due to his last name but he has done a fantastic job during his time in London and deserves consideration for HC jobs in the OHL. 3 OHL titles as an assistant coach and 1 OHL title as a player. Has also spent time with Hockey Canada as he was an assistant coach at last years U17 development camp
Ryan Ward - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Ward has spent the past 2 seasons as an assistant with the Greyhounds under Drew Bannister. Before that he was a video coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Marlies. from 08-09 to 11-12 he was a video coach with the New York Islanders and was twice brought on by USA hockey to be a video coach with the World Championship team. Ryan Ward is a name to keep an eye on maybe not this year but definitely in the next few as he is building himself quite the resume.
Mario Duhamel - Ottawa 67's
An assistant with the Ottawa 67s the past season he has 4 years of HC experience with Drummondville in the QMJHL as well as half a season with Gatineau. He was also an assistant GM with Rouyn-Noranda when they won the Q title in 15-16. He spent 2 years as a video coach with the Colorado Avalance and on 3 times has been an assistant with Hockey Canada at the U17, U18 and U20 levels. Im not sure if he would take a HC job in the OHL but he would be one of the first 3 people I would call.
Jake Grimes - Guelph Storm
Grimes Spent 3 years as a HC at the Jr B level with Strathroy, London and Petrolia before joining the Belleville Bulls in 2004-05. Grimes would spend 11 years in Belleville before joining The Petes staff upon the Bulls move to Hamilton. After 2 years in Peterborough Grimes moved to Guelph this past year where he rejoined George Burnett as an associate coach with the Guelph Storm. Grimes has also been apart of the U17 program 4 times. Twice as an Assistant and twice as the Head Coach. He has 3 golds and 1 Silver to show for his time working with Team Ontario.
Ryan Kuwabara - Saginaw Spirit
The Hamilton Ontario native suited up for Japan at the Nagano Olympics and also played for that country at 5 world championships. After a pro career in Japan he returned to Hamilton eventually becoming the Head Coach of the Ancaster Avalanche of the GOJHL. Always at a resource disadvantage compared to divisional rivals St. Catherines and Caledonia. The Avalanche were always competitive under his watch. It was enough to catch the eye of Bulldogs associate coach Troy Smith who brought Kuwabra with him to Saginaw last year when he became the head coach for the Spirit. I dont know if he is on the radar quite yet for a head job in the OHL but it is a name that will garner more interest over the next few years.
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