After five years as an assistant coach, Brad Lauer feels it’s time to test the waters.
Lauer, an assistant coach with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice, resigned Tuesday, leaving general manager Jeff Chynoweth and head coach Cory Clouston to put out the ‘Help Wanted’ sign.
Lauer, who played in the WHL with the Regina Pats (1983-86), had been with the Ice since Aug. 6, 2002.
The 40-year-old Lauer leaves the Ice without having anything firm awaiting him.
“I’m hoping,” he said. “There’s opportunity but I don’t know for sure yet. It’s a waiting game and I’m stuck in the middle. I’ve accepted an opportunity . . . there’s still a process to go through.”
Earlier this summer, Lauer interviewed for head-coaching vacancies with the Moose Jaw Warriors and Prince Albert Raiders. The Warriors hired Dave Hunchak, a veteran assistant coach who had been with the Swift Current Broncos. The Raiders went with Bruno Campese, who had been GM and head coach of the BCHL’s Penticton Vees.
“I was hoping to get a head job in (the WHL),“ Lauer said. “I don’t know that I would have improved any more (by staying put) . . . not to say I’m maxxed out. Last season was a good season of coaching for me as far as getting a little more responsibility. Now it’s like you want to put your own flavour on it and I need to do that this year if I am going to be staying in hockey.”
And staying in hockey is something he wants to do.
“I really do,” he said. “Especially after the last couple of seasons. The kids at this age are so much fun to work with. For the most part, they’ll do as they’re told and just want to learn.”
Lauer added that he hasn’t looked into the head-coaching vacancy with the Kelowna Rockets. There has been an opening there since Jeff Truitt resigned to join the staff of the AHL’s Springfield Falcons. Lauer said that he isn’t interested in stepping on Kelowna assistant coach Ryan Huska’s toes.
“When I looked at the big picture,” Lauer said, “I thought Ryan and I were in the same boat. If (Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton) would hire me before Ryan, I don’t think I would have him with me. I could be totally wrong thinking like that but I think if you can hire from within with a good guy that’s the way to go.”
Meanwhile, in Brandon, the Wheat Kings have firmed up their coaching staff.
Kelly McCrimmon, the club’s owner, governor and general manager, said yesterday that he is returning for a fourth season as head coach.
At the same time, McCrimmon announced that Dwayne Gylywoychuk, 34, will be back for a fourth season and will be on the bench, responsible for the defence.
Joining the Brandon coaching staff is former Wheat Kings sniper Darren Ritchie, 33, who replaces Brad Wells as the club’s part-time assistant coach. Wells, 44, is a former WHL player who works as a Canada Post letter carrier and spent the last seven seasons on the club’s coaching staff.
"We just changed the responsibilities a little this year and I think that Brad felt it was better for him to take a step away . . .,” McCrimmon told the Brandon Sun. "I think Brad and I had different discussions about it and I think Brad just wasn't comfortable with what I envisioned us needing to do."
Ritchie, who played four seasons with the Wheat Kings, spent nine seasons playing professionally, mostly in Europe. He had 114 points, including 62 goals, in 1994-95, a season that he ended with the Wheat Kings at the Memorial Cup in Kamloops.
JUNIOR JOTTINGS: The Prince Albert Raiders have signed D Ryan Aasman, the eighth overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft, to a WHL contract. The 5-foot-10, 160-pounder had 44 points in 32 games with the bantam AAA Medicine Hat Hounds last season.
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