i guess some guys in stouffville dont want to be puppets for certain players on the team.




Milne, McDonald resign; ‘won’t be puppets’
By: Mike Hayakawa, Staff Writer

The Stouffville Spirit is looking for its fourth general manager in 12 months.

And, for that matter, a new director of hockey operations, again.


Tom Milne, who replaced Matt Gibson as the Provincial Junior A Hockey League’s club general manager in October, announced his resignation Monday. Gibson replaced long-time Spirit staffer Ken Burrows, who was fired one year ago.


Also leaving the team Monday was Gerry McDonald, who served for a second tour of duty with the team as their director of hockey operations. Mr. McDonald resigned last spring but re-joined the team when Mr. Milne was hired.


While disappointed to be leaving a team that they said was headed in the right direction, both said their decision was based on internal strife and broken promises from club ownership.


“I wasn’t given full reign (as) general manager,” Milne said. “I didn’t want to be a puppet.”


Milne said the problem stemmed primarily from his differences in wanting to hire people he felt comfortable working with. In particular, he wanted a new head coach to replace Dave D’Ammizio who, in his first season, directed the Spirit to the North Conference final before bowing out in five games to the Aurora Tigers.


“When a general manager and coach cannot co-exist, it’s not good for any organization,” said Milne, who was an assistant coach with the Spirit for part of the 200607 season before accepting the head coaching position with the Orangeville Crushers. “I feel it’s best to step aside.”


“The (game day) volunteers that we had were super. I had a great time working with them,” he said.
McDonald echoed what Milne said.


“There were some internal problems and what can you say about that? I had a position to do and that’s what I did and there were some promises that didn’t come through. I won’t be a puppet to anybody,” he said.


“Ownership made a decision that the coach stays and that’s fine by me,” McDonald said. “It’s too bad. I enjoyed the staff that I did work with and talking with the fans. They were really good. But these things happen. It’s time to move on.”


Zeev Werek, who co-owns the Spirit with David Laren, was disappointed to see Milne and McDonald leave and was hoping stability would have been created.


Werek did not have replacements in mind when contacted Monday, but hoped to find someone within the organization to create continuity.


As for their future, Milne and McDonald said they will see what unfolds prior to the start of next season.

The key here is "In particular, he (Milne)wanted a new head coach to replace Dave D’Ammizio"

Many conversations that I have been privy to point to the fact that Milne wanted to be the head coach of the Spirit. The fact that owners Werek and Laren didn't like that idea sent Milne packing.

Look for the Spirit to bring back Ken Burrows as GM. And when things don't get off to a good start next season, particularly when there are no line mates for Ethan Werek, the revolving door will be in high gear!

This team needs stability from the top down!

Spiritnation you are badly misinformed,in talking to the Spirit
Director of Hockey Operations he has told people Milne did not
want to coach he wanted to hire Paul Titanic and had spoken to him.

New-87 Is this the same Director of Hockey Operations that left the team as well? I would not have posted without some facts from various sources in Spiritland very. very close to Milne (as in discussed with him coaching the team).

What it really boils down to is repetitive personality/control conflicts between players (how many requested trades or left this past season), Coaching (lack of experience and skill), GM (no authority to make decisions), and ownership (looking out for #8 and #18 - their sons).

Kenny back in Stouffville?! HAHAHA. Not on your life!

It's sad that a team will let a capable GM and Director of Hockey Operations go in favour of coach who coughed up the North Final in five games through weak tactics. The Spirit lost to a good team in Aurora, but make no mistake, they were simply outcoached. Had they had a coach in place who could have motivated the players to play for the crest on the front and not the name on the back, they would have given the Tigers a much better series.

spiritnation you cant be too close to the situation as ken burrows WILL NOT return to the spirit.

its a shame that werek gets dragged into the negativity here because he is a great player.

I stand corrected on Burrows as it appears others know more than I, or at the very least have not heard the same stories as I have. Needless to say, I see a team in turmoil here, with a need for stability, consistency, and leadership.

I agree that it is unfair that Werek the player gets dragged into the my daddy owns the team discussions as he is a gifted player.

This one will be interesting to watch unfold.

Yes Werek is good. However, I would like to see just how good. Without the parental interference, promotion & point padding. The other kid ..... meh!

In the minds of some others, sabath, truthman, Cash8132 parental ownership is a good thing. Here you have a kid already being touted for the 2009 NHL draft & the dad still has to manipulate.

i dont really think zeev had to manipulate too much to get werek on the ice. hes that good. he deserved to be on the ice. its not like zeev bought the team this season just so ethan could play there.

now the other partner in the deal and the potential future partner is another story.

I agree he is very good, so maybe its time for his dad to butt out.

Senor Werek is not one to just let things play out. I guarantee you there was/is still a load of manipulation. Anyone hear rumours of some agency hired just to promote his son? When he bought the Spirit I am sure he was already looking to the future. I assume everyone here knows who coached his kid in minor hockey prior to being suspended for tampering. Does everyone here know about his last minor coach, who has a nickname for being bought. He just happened to coach the other owners son the previous year with a completely different organization & there were lots of raised eyebrows that year. They want the people they can control.

One place the father had no control was the World U 17 Challenge this past Christmas. His personal results were not what they would be happy with & he saw hardly any ice in the last few games. They will just explain the OHL are jealous of his son & are punishing him for choosing Tier II.

Sucks to have teams choose or play kids based on things other than their ability eh.

four kids on that u17 team were in the O. none of them got much ice time.

do you really think that when ethan was 4 his dad said hey im gonna buy stouffville so my kid can play? i really doubt it.

i will agree that there is a lot of manipulation in stouffville but i dont think it is related to ethan.