Did they find one or not...or what are the rumours?

And as for Hedley, Good Luck to him, he was good in finding good players but not good in finding the tough ones to defend the good players. (Read the old posts regarding Portage and Selkirk goons Letkemen and Michaud) You know, I think that was one of the reasons why Hedleys contract was not renewed because the crowds were getting smaller and OCN just had enough with the B.S those two teams had and their bullying, *******S...Talk about kicking someone when they just getting started at a young age. Well, I hope OCN can find a coach that'll show alot of passion for the team and especially for the fans. Go Blizz!

Read the ad for the job in the Careers section of the Winnipeg Free Press on Saturday. Apparently Brian Smiley has expressed interest in that job if he doesn't get the Steinbach Blades job.

HEAD COACH / GENERAL MANAGER OCN Blizzard Junior "A" Hockey The Opaskwayak Cree Nation invites applications for the position of Head Coach/GM of the OCN Blizzard Hockey Team. OCN Blizzard is committed to supporting the best MJHL ice hockey program possible and is searching for a Head Coach/GM who is capable of managing a high performance program; has the ability to attract and retain the best hockey student-athletes in Canada and can continue the national winning tradition of the most successful Aboriginal owned ice hockey program in Canada.

Reporting to the OCN Blizzard Corporate Rep., the Head Coach/GM will be responsible for all duties associated with the successful operation of a highly competitive MJHL ice hockey program. Major responsibilities include coaching; recruiting/retention of athletes; creation and management of a yearly budget; hockey camps and other sport development activities and promotion of positive alumni and community relations. The Head Coach/GM will support and act in accordance with the strategic direction and initiatives of the OCN Blizzard and Paskwayak Business Development Corp. as they relate to the development/fund raising, general promotions, budget management and appropriate administrative responsibilities.

In addition, the Head Coach/GM will be familiar with and ensure compliance with MJHL/CHA rules and regulations. These responsibilities are required in organization an Aboriginal owned competitive team while promoting academic success for student-athletes. It is preferred that the successful candidate possesses a university degree; however, equivalencies of education, experience and demonstrated national success will be considered. The successful candidate will have a minimum of NCCP Level III certification or equivalent as well as several years of coaching experience at the CHA level, preferably with a minimum of three (3) years experience as Head Coach. Effective communication skills and proven organizational, leadership and management skills are also required.

Please provide three references. Salary: Negotiable Application Deadline: April 16, 2008 Application Process: To apply submit a letter of application by e-mail or fax to: Russell Constant OCN Blizzard Hockey Organization Work: 204 - 627 - 7206 Cell: 204 - 620 - 2883 Fax: 204 - 623 - 6830 E-mail: rconstant@pbdcltd.com

but please keep in mind that PBDC knows nothing about running a hockey team in any way at all so if ya can help them out in the capacity that would also be considered an asset.

need not apply.

Good. His work on the mjhl website was less than brilliant.

why would Smiley quit a job with MPI to work for a franchise that just fired the coach of the year, fired Watson, and now had a bad rep behind the scenes? to live in The Pas of all places?

we don`t need a guy who coached junior B in Stonewall. Thanks but no thanks. Bring back Hedley. He said he would come back to finish what he started on the radio last week.

In other words, be a puppet for the "powers that be at PBDC", for heavens sake don't try to think for yourself, and what ever you do don't cross swords with Mr. Dyck or Mr. Flett. Let me think, who is it that drives the zamboni? There would be a perfect coach. Not saying you don't do a terrific job of driving the zamboni, just that you would truly be "under the thumb of PBDC, so to speak." It will be interesting to see how many prospects - don't apply.

Headley was spending to much money and that was a big problem, was going to spend alot more next year. Headley has always spent alot of money big reason he does not have a job.

bullsh1t

If the idiots at PBDC are serious about this team getting to the RBC in Dauphin next year they themselves are going to have to spend lots of money to get a good coach in here and furthermore spend some money to get the necessary pieces to finish the building of this team. From a fan's perspective the team has a good core returning, among the best in the league I think. However if they hire the wrong coach or one that doesn't know anything, then forget playoffs even next year...GO BLIZZ!

better realize that it`s going to take some extra cash and a proven coach to get them anywhere near the RBC next year, if they think a new coach and a shoe string budget is the answer they are in for a real suprise. Give a proven coach a few extra bucks at the start of the year it will pay off with bigger crowds and a longer playoff run in the spring. What kind of players are needed, players that can play physical and a few guys that can drop the mitts. A ruff and tuff team will put a couple hundred extra fans in the stands at the GLMC next winter.

I just heard that Bruce Schmidt is a front runner. He'll get this team rolling!

Bateman should apply so Neepawa does not have to put up with him next year

Blizz Phan? Do they have fans in Wpg? Must be Bruce himself. Anymore coaches from Wpg apply for the job?

we need a guy that grew up on the prairies, somebody who knows what gritt is not somebody from Winnipeg who`s mommy still wipes his a$$.

heard arthur murray the teams trainer from last year is running for head coach is this true ?

Whoever is going to be the new coach, will have to be a damm good P.R. person as well to try and restore the damage done by Dick and company, Hockey business is brutal so that might be a hard sell, Hedley diserved better then what he got.At this point in time, fans just don't give a $hit.

Is it really going to matter who coaches? The team needs to make cuts to the budget and utilize local talent from OCN and The Pas to bring up the fan base once again.

go away!

Curtis Batemen looks to have inside line,

Can you give us some LOCAL names that might be considered to make the Blizzard, cause I sure as hell don't anyone except for a couple of long shots. Young Williams should be ready. Well,,,,,waaaaitttting.

Just my opinion Brad Swampy could play as a forward extremly quick(knee injury 08) but if things do not go his way dad gets involved so there is risk. Ryan Delorme could be the back up and has always played well until crunch time thats a coachs choice oh yeah we do not have one. Williams should be ready will bring a lot of grit and a good set of hands just has to work on mobility to get good on ice minutes. Jaron Cambell could be a 4th line checker and energy guy but more than likly a Northstar next year. T.J. Constant if he wants to should play solid kid that has great offensive talent and learnt "Hockey" playing in Beardys this year, downside he got enough exposure in sask that WHL Raiders might keep him if he comes to OCN now he is also an import. Have at it and remember just my opinion on locals that could make the club lets not tear them aprt for no reason.

Sounds very impressive,, hope theses guys can cut it, they could be protected by other teams,,Flin Flon picked up a couple of Northstars in the likes of Yound and McLeod,, Reagon is not sleeping at the switch.Good Luck to them all.

the only locals with a realistic chance of playing for OCN next winter are Williams, Delorme and T.J Constant. Zulyniak is another Northstar that could make the club but he is from Winnipeg. The bull$hit about iceing a team with more locals better be just that because PBDC said they let go Hedley because they didn`t win, a team with a bunch of locals that should`nt be on the team will be playing in an empty building. People on both sides of the Saskatchewan river are still pissed off about this coaching thing. If Scotty Bowman does`nt apply they better hope that Hedley will come back. The people who run the casino have even said they will pull their sponsorship. The a$$holes at PBDC should be fired because if they Fu ck up the rest of the stores etc. that they run like they Fu ck up the hockey club everything must be sinking (IGA).

that people on BOTH SIDES of the river are pissed!! The whole community of The Pas, OCN, RM, Wanless and everywhere are mad that Hedley was not offered a chance to finish what he started. PBDC you guys had better announce a very qualified coach by the end of the week or the 20th or whatever day you claim.

I have heard they are down to a list of 4 or 5 with one having NO JUNIOR A experience! Now that is what I heard so take it for what it's worth. Clock's ticking PBDC make a smart choice for once! If that choice is NOT Hedley then surprise us.

If The Pas doesn't take Hedley back there is sure a lot of talk in Swan River that he could turn this team around

Hedley could`nt turn them around as long as Vestby is still there. As long as Vestby is calling the shots it won`t matter who they hire for coach.

Take it for what it is worth pbdc is very close to announcing Drew Shoneck as the replacement for headly, as I remember Drew was having a terrible year here on and off ice, Dickie came and finished the season and in a couple of weeks they looked like a different team, Shoneck went to PG but was let go earlier this year. Other thoughts?

Dickie never replaced Schoneck, he replaced Barry Wolff. Schoneck came the year after and took this team to the league final. Remember that year? The best year they had since the dynasty ended. I doubt Schoneck is coming back here though. Remember it was because of his wife that he left in the first place.

You know when you think about it, the change should be the assistant coaching position as well. OCN Blizzard has missed out on a lot of talent and the scouting efforts of Hunter, Zacc & Keith are sadly lacking. We could have had Kajun McKay, Miles Stevens, Eli Halcrow, the McCleod boys, the 2 Cox boys, Early but our scouting team failed to acquire them. If the board and Greg Hunter were on the ball and knew hockey, these 'impact' players could have been with OCN.

There are many people here that could help with the scouting and don't rely on the above-mentioned to make final decisions. Get rid of them so OCN Blizzard can regain some credibility to attract good players and good coaches.

hedley is just a coach like any other coach who gets fired, stop crying and wait. I hope they find a coach who puts his foot down. I hear so many people we're not going to the games if hedley doesn't come back well thats too bad for you people, I bet the people who don;t go the games will be listening to the radio.

get your facts straight. In his only year as Blizzard coach he had a 37-17-4 record. The Blizz won the Sherwood division that year but lost to the South Blues in the final. He also won coach of the year that year and coached the Sherwood prospects at the all star weekend. Drew resigned at the end of the year for personal reasons. If you want to know where else he has coached go to the internet hockey data base and do a search on his name and you will find his stats as a player and a list of the teams he has coached. He is a very qualified coach and has coached in leagues where Hedley can`t even get a sniff. He is from Saskatchewan and has connections across the prairies i`m sure. Drew Schoneck would be a good choice if in fact he is willing to come back.

what kind of personal reasons, if u know so much about this guy?

If I recall, Drew's wife is an American and she couldn't work in Canada. She got work near a BC border town in Washington state so Drew left to go to BC and coach a team near the border. I know Hedley wasn't perfect, and I do think he probably spent more money than PBDC liked but I am not convinced that anyone at PBDC actually has any business smarts in any area at all - let alone hockey. I really think that the management showed a real lack of class. Unfortunately shopping for a coach right now is made even harder by the fact that The Pas/OCN looks like he!! with with more closed and boarded up shops, garbage and stray dogs and their crap everywhere. Only the desperate would consider it.

It won't be Schonek. He was hired as the coach of the Tri-City Storm in the USHL a few days ago.

http://www.kearneyhub.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20293621&BRD=268&PAG=461&dept_id=577565&rfi=6

No one in their right mind would apply for their
coaching position. Think about it, the place sucks, management is incapable,
they obviously don't have a goal in mind,. They want to be instant winners.
But, they have proven that they are for real losers.

Guess who was the King`s coach the year that the Schoneck coached edition of the Blizzard came from behind 3 games to 1 to beat the Kings. The same Dauphin coach had a record of 14-4-1 to start the following year when he left that team for unknown reasons.

Play your first line lots and you will be very successful in da playoffs!!!

do you work for pbdc?

I do not work for PBDC and i think the way PBDC handled this was stupid and classless. I have been a season ticket holder since before the Blizzard even played game 1 and i will not be renewiing my tickets if PBDC hires another Wolfe or Wilkinson. Is Doug Hedley a good coach YES, is he the end all be all no. Can Doug Hedley make the changes he needs to make to actually win a championship only he knows the answer to that one. He built a team in OCN that needed some gritt very badly and he had all year to do something about it and chose not to. He had a power play that could`nt get a shot on goal against Dauphin in the playoffs and for the last 3 games of the series the Kings were getting a forward behind our defence 5 or 6 times a game, why and why did`nt he do something to stop it from happening. Aime was hung out dry way too many times each game, it`s a damn good thing we had a tender like him in net.

Good post Doug did an average job, and we need a new guy to take the next step.

what abuot klemchuk fr. the pas

well put.

Play your first line lots and you will be very successful in da playoffs!!!

OCN will have a good team that does well in the regular season and most likely have a short playoff run, that`s how it`s been every other place he has coached in the past. Will that keep OCN fans happy?

There's no reason for a coaching change. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year and this coming year should show some good results. It makes us all wonder what are they thinking of? There's some really knowledgeable and experienced hockey people in the community who could really help the club. But noooo... that would take away from the current regime. Replace them all.. because just looking at their limited or complete lack of a hockey background shows in their decision making.

OCN needs to open their minds and replace those relatives, friends and supporters and get some real hockey people to make some real positive changes. Garth, Keith, Zacc, Russell, Greg Hunter should all be traded for used practice pucks and start fresh.

Bring back Jerry Mosiondz, he was the one bringing alot of the talent in the past. Hunter should be kicked to the curb for the lack of recruitment he does while off in the summer time. Hunter likes his cake (cash) but what does he do to earn it?

Bring back Wayne Hawrysh!!!

drug test the pbdc and everyone else that leads the band and we can see who is on crack...

and who they gonna replace them with? more crack heads? hmmmmm why do their people struggle?

You're probably the supplier since you know these crack heads.

The big rumour is that they are down to 3, 4, or 5 names. So does anybody have ANY insight or names that they could mention.

3 for runners for blizzard coach mcgillvary bates and watson not glen this ones from grand praire, better go gefore they find out i leaked this info, uh oh garth and keith are coming better go

Isn't Glen leaving in Grand Prairie

hee haw is coming back

Nobody ever thought watson would come back surprising, was a total shocker

is not nor EVER coming back. Those that think he is just simply have to move on like he has. Give it up, it's over, end of story!

Blizz might be suspending operations for a year from the MJHL....

where did you hear that BS from?

MCGILLIVARY from U of M is the only name I heard. They have about 4 interviews remaining

dream on about donny mac unless they're paying him six figures