Sunday 19 January 2020

OHL Head Coaching Candidates

This is a post that I have made the last few years. I try to identify potential head coaching options for OHL teams. Some of my choices have become OHL head coaches others have been picked up as assistants, while others have been passed over but have continued to find success. I try to concentrate more on those who have not been OHL Head Coaches rather than those who have been. You can find my past posts below.

2018 list

2017 list

2016 Bulldogs HC candidate list

I have broken it down by OHL assistant coaches, JR A head coaches and CIS head coaches. I have also added a section for names to watch. These are coaches who I feel could potentially be head coaches down the road but not foresee it happening this offseason, some in this list outside of the OHL could be prime candidates to be hire as assistants.

If I were to rank the top 5 that I would like my team to reach out to if there were a head coaching vacancy it would be as follows

1) Jason Fortier
2) Mario Duhamel
3) Brett Gibson
4) Martin Dagenias/Jason Clarke
5) Marc Lafleur

Below you can find write ups on the above coaches as well others that you may have promotions coming their way this spring/summer

OHL Assistant Coaches

B.J. Adams

Adams has spent the last 5 seasons as a coach in the OHL with the Erie Otters. The first 2 as an assistant coach and the last 3 as an associate coach to Chris Hartsburg.

Before joining the Otters Adams spent 5 seasons at the NCAA level with Canisius College in Buffalo, NY.

In 2017-18 Adams won a silver medal at the U17 Hockey Championships with Team Canada Red while also leading team Green to the Development camp title that summer.

In Erie he has worked primarily with the defense and the Penalty Kill. An area where the Otters rank #1 this season.

Ryan Kuwabara

Kuwabara has 5 years of head coaching experience in the GOJHL were he led the Stoney Creek Warriors and the Ancaster Avalanche. While behind the bench in Ancaster he did a great job of developing talent for the next level, particularly that for the Hamilton Bulldogs whom Ancaster was an affiliate franchise of.

When the Saginaw Spirit tabbed former OHL coach Troy Smith to lead their team prior to the 2017-18 season he called on Kuwabara who he had gotten to know while he was an associate coach with the Bulldogs. Kuwabara spent 2 seasons in Saginaw before moving to the upstart Flint Firebirds this year as the associate coach for Eric Wellwoods team.

Kuwabara has a wealth of experience to draw on including some time in the AHL after 3 straight 30 goal seasons with the Ottawa 67's. Following the AHL he played professionally in Japan for 15 years. While in Japan he played in the Olympics in Nagano as well as 5 world championships.

Dylan Hunter

Hunter has been an assistant coach for the London Knights since 2011-12 and has been on the staff for 3 OHL champions. During the 2018-19 season he added U-17 duties on top of those with the Kngihts. He was an assitant coach for Team Canada White at the U-17 world championships. In the summer he was head coach of Team Gold at the development camp. While Dale and Mark were in the Czech Rep. wtih Team Canada for the World Junior Championships it was Dylan who was tasked with the job of acting head coach.

This past season he was also an assistant coach for the OHL All-Stars and the Jr Super Series vs Russia.

Before joining his father behind the bench in London Dylan had embarked on a 5 year professional career that saw him play in the AHL and ECHL. Before that he had spent 5 years with the London Knights the last 2 of which he spent as Captain.



Mario Duhamel

Mario Duhamel of the Ottawa 67's has a weath of expierience both in the CHL, NHL and for Hockey Canada.

He spent 4 seasons as the head coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs where he compiled a record of 162-87-20. Prior to that he had spent 4 seasons as an assitant coach with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

After his time in Drummondville, Duhamel spent 2 seasons as a video coach with the Colorado Avalanche before returning to the Q as an assistant GM with the Huskies in 2015-16 as they won the league title.

After half a season as head coach in Gatineau he joined the 67's as an associate coach.

On the international level he has been an assistant coach at the Hlinka cup twice and the U20 world juniors once. He was also an assistant on Team Quebec at the U17 hockey championships in 2008-09

Hiring someone with a Q background would go against the norm in the OHL but having someone with a different track record could produce strong results. All you have to do is look at the results in Ottawa with Andre Tourigny.

Jordan Smith

Currently in his 2nd season as an associote coach on John Deans staff with the Greyhounds. Prior to his return home he spent a seaosn in the same role with the Sudbury Wolves.

From 2013-17 Jordan Smith was behind the bench of the Soo Thunderbirds in the NOJHL where he compiled a record of 176-29-10-3. He helped lead the Thunderbirds to back to back league titles in 2014-15 and 2015-16. The 2014-15 went on to win the Dudley Hewitt Cup and earned a spot in the RBC cup.



JR A Coaches

Jason Fortier

Fortier has been on my list every year that I have posted it. I am shocked he hasn't gotten his shot yet. From 2008-20012 he was the head coach of the Vaughn Vipers of the OJHL. over those 4 seasons his team went 125-61-0-18. From there he went to the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots and won back to back OJHL titles (the first team in a decade to do so) with a record of 70-30-0-7. He was named the coach of the year for 2013-14 in the OJHL and lead the Patriots to a Royal Bank Cup berth thanks to winning the Dudley-Hewitt Cup.

He was pulling double duty in 2013-14 as he was also the head coach of the Toronto Nationals Midget AAA team and let them to a Telus Cup title and national champions.

During the 2015-16 season He was an assistant coach with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and helped guide the team to the Memorial Cup. Following that season he spent a year with the Kitchener Rangers. After splitting from the Rangers he joined the Coquitlim Express of the BCHL part way through the 2017-18 season. The Express were 3-22-0-1 at the time he was hired. As of Mid January 2019 they are the 2nd ranked Jr A team in the Country and are in top spot in the BCHL.

Jason Fortier has a history of not only winning at all his stops but developing talent to meet their potential. There isn't much more an OHL team could ask for in a coach.

Martin Dagenais

Dagenais is currently in his 6th season as the head coach of the Ottawa Jr Senators in the CCHL. They are coming off of back to back CCHL titles for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. In his first 5 full seasons his teams compiled a record of 214-70-26. On top of the 2 titles they have also lost the league championship twice and have never failed to win fewer than 40 games.

The Jr Senators have also played in 2 straight Jr A National championships thanks to a pair of Fred Page Cup Championships

This year he took over the head coaching duties of Team Canada East for the World Jr A challenge. It was his 2nd time with the team after being an assistant the previous year. In charge of the team he led them to a 2nd place finish in the tournament. It was Canada Easts best finish in 4 seasons and only the 5th time they have won Silver in the tournaments history.

Jason Clarke

Jason Clarke has been the man behind the bench for the Carleton Place Canadians for more than a decade. Over that time he has compiled a record of 431-158-34 and has led his team to the last 6 league championship series. Winning 4 straight before losing the last 2 to Martin Dagenais and the Ottawa Jr Senators.

Along with those 4 league titles came 3 straight Fred Page Cup titles before losing a potential 4 championship in 2017 to the host Terrebonne Cobras of the QJHL. The Carleton Place Canadians made it to back to back Royal Bank Cup championship games before ultimately losing both.

Jason Clarke was twice named head coach of Team Canda East at the World Jr A challenge, coming home with a Silver medal in 2016. This past spring he was head coach for HEO entry in the OHL Gold Cup.


Marc Lafleur

Marc Lafleur has 8 years of Jr A head coaching experience in the NOJHL. 5 years with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners and 3 years with the Hearst Lumber Jacks. He took over a Kirkland Lake team that went 9-40-0-1 and within 2 years led them to the NOJHL title and a record of 43-7-1-5. The Gold Miners never had a losing season under his guidance. He eventually left Kirkland Lake to lead his hometown Hearst Lumber Jacks who had relocated to his home city after 3 straight 5th places finishes in Iroquois Falls. In his 2nd season behind the bench in Hearst Mr. Lafleur won his 2nd NOJHL title.

On top of his Jr A head coaching experience Lafleur spent 2 seasons as an assistant with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL

He has also been tabbed by Hockey Canada to be an assistant coach for Team Canada East on the Jr A Hockey Challenge 4 times and once for the U17 Hockey Challenge.

Mark Jooris

OJHL Coach of the year in 2015-16 with the Burlington Cougars and Western Conference coach of the year in 2009-2010 when the OJHL was known as the CCHL (not to be confused with what is now the CCHL in the Ottawa area).

Since 2011-12 5 OJHL coach of the year awards were won by Greg Walters (Now HC in Oshawa), James Richmond (HC Mississauga) and John Dean (HC Soo Greyhounds). The others Michael Peca 2012-13, Mike Tarintino 2018-19 (He would  actually be near the top of my list for a GM) and the aforementioned Jooris.

Jooris has found a fair bit of success coaching his hometown Burlington Cougars. A Jr. A team that doesn't necessarily have the financial ability of some of its rivals but Jooris has found success non the less. If a HC position isn't available Jooris is someone who could make a real difference as an associate or assistant coach at the OHL level. 



CIS coaches

Brett Gibson

A 2 time OUA coach of the year having taken home the honours in 07-08 and 13-14. Led Queens to a Queen's Cup championship in 2018-19 (their first title since 1981). From 2006-2019 coach Gibson accumulated a record of 209-158-40.

On top of his duties with Queens he has been tabbed by Hockey Canada to coach Canada's entry int he 2019 U18 world championships where they came away with a 4th place finish. He did however get a bronze medal at the 2017 Universaide in Kazakhstan leading the Canadian team there.

Before stepping into coaching he spent 4 years playing at St Mary's. Before that an OHL career that saw him make stops in Erie, North Bay and London.

Names to Watch

This list is for OHL assistant coaches who I feel may be a few years away but are worth watching. Also a CIS assistant and 3 Jr A coaches who I am very high on but feel they are more likely to become OHL assistants than head coaches in the near future before making the next step.

Jared Nightingale
Nightingale is in his 1st season as an associate coach behind the bench in Saginaw. He spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant with Omaha in the USHL and last season as an interim assistant coach with the USNTDP U17 team.

He brings and interesting background and is regarded as an up and coming coaching prospect.

His brother Adam is currently an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings.

Brad Staubitz

Got his start with the Sting as their strength and conditioning coach before moving onto the bench the next season when Sting assistant Chris Lazary took a job with the Spirit.

He has been behind the Sting bench the last 4 seasons and brings a wealth of experience from 230 NHL games and nearly 300 AHL games.

Nathan McIver & Greg Nemisz

A pair of Oshawa assistants  have been behind the Generals bench for 4 and 5 years respectively. In that time they have worked under Bob Jones and Greg Walters. Both come with varying levels of AHL and NHL success.


Jerrod Smith

Smith has spent the last 9 years as part of the Windsor staff. His first 2 seasons were as video coach before 5 seasons as an assistant and the last 2 as an associate coach for the Spits.

In that time the team has won a memorial cup while he has had the opportunity to work with some great coaches.

Mike Zigomanis

Former NHL player is currently an assistant coach for the 1st place Toronto Varsity Blues in the OUA. Zigomanis has a wealth of NHL experience and operates a hockey school in the Toronto area.

Corey Beer

Currently the head coach of the Timmins Rock in the NOJHL. Currently this season he has the Rock poised for their 1st division title as they have a record of 30-6-2 as of writing this. He has been an assistant coach with Team Canada East the last 2 World Jr A Challenge's.

Before Joining the Rock he spent 4 years as an assistant with the Cobourg Cougars and 1 year with the Whitby Fury of the OJHL.

Kyle Brick

Brick is currently the head coach of the Blind River Beavers of the NOJHL. It his his 4 season in charge of the Beavers and he currently has them in 1st place in the West Division. On top of his duties with the Beavers he was head coach for the NOHA entry in the OHL Cup last year and has been head coach for team NOJHL in the Eastern Canada Cup for the 17-18 and 18-19 seasons.

Before joining the Beavers he was an assistant for Jordan Smith with the Soo Thunderbirds. Before that he was head coach of the St Mary's high school hockey team in Sault Ste. Marie for 3 seasons.

Geoff Schmogyi

For the past 4 years Schmogyi has been the Head Coach of the North York Rangers in the OJHL. For a team that has generally been solid but has not seen much success he was able to lead them to back to back franchise record seasons and all the way to the Conference finals last year.

In North York he has shown a strong ability to develop talent and move players on to the NCAA. With the limited seasons OHL teams get it is imperative to have someone who shows an ability to develop talent.

Before landing in North York Schmogyi spent 2 years as an assistant in Georgetown under Greg Walters. He was also the head coach of the Mississauga Rebels in the GTHL even winning an OHL Cup title with the likes of Dawson Carty, Stephen Desrochers and Robbie Fabbri in 2011-12. His 2015-16 team ultimately bowed out in the QFs with a heartbreaking loss to York Simcoe.



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