Blazers confirm coaching staff

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The Kamloops Blazers’ coaching staff, in a state of flux since Nov. 7, has
been finalized.
The WHL team made official Tuesday what was first reported in Monday’s Daily
News — assistant coaches Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith have been added to
head coach Barry Smith’s staff, while goaltending coach Steve Passmore will
be returning.
“It’s going to be a great group of guys,” Barry Smith said, pointing out
that all three are former Blazers. “I like the culture they bring. We’ve got
a lot of NHL experience. We’ve got a Stanley Cup, we’ve got three Memorial
Cups . . .”
Referring to Ferguson and Smith, the two newcomers, Barry Smith added: “I’m
probably a little more vocal and outgoing than those guys; they’re probably
a little quieter and can probably calm me down when need be. That’s the kind
of mix I was looking for.
“As well, all three have ties to the Blazers and we’re trying to get that
past back.”
Ferguson, a 35-year-old native of Camrose, Alta., played three seasons
(1991-94) with the Blazers and was on the Memorial Cup championship teams in
1992 and ’94.
“He’s a quality person,” Blazers general manager Craig Bonner said of
Ferguson, with whom he played for two seasons. “You won’t find anybody who
will say a bad thing about his character. He made the NHL, not because of
his ability, but because of his character.”
After leaving the Blazers, Ferguson went on to a pro career that included
218 NHL games split between the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and
Minnesota Wild. He also played in the ECHL, AHL, Sweden and Germany. Last
season, he was with Ingolstadt ERC of the German DEL. In 10 of his 14 pro
seasons, Ferguson compiled at least 100 penalty minutes.
“Ferguson’s a hard-working guy. He’s a real honest guy,” offered Vancouver
Giants head coach Don Hay, who coached Ferguson, Smith and Passmore in
Kamloops. “(Ferguson) was an honest player. He won two Memorial Cups. (In
1994), he was a shutdown defenceman. He and (Nolan) Baumgartner played
together. He was a hard-working guy . . . a real character guy.”
Geoff Smith, 39, is a native of Edmonton who left the U of North Dakota
Fighting Sioux and joined the Blazers for the second half of the 1988-89
season. He went on to play 462 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup with the
1989-90 Edmonton Oilers. He lives in Kamloops — he owns the Thirsty Dog
Sports Club — and coached the bantam AAA Jardine’s Blazers last season.
“I really liked Geoff,” Hay said. “He’s a real good person. He worked to get
into the coaching business and this is a good challenge for him.”
Passmore, 35, won a Memorial Cup with the 1993-94 Blazers before going on to
a lengthy pro career that included 93 NHL games. He is a co-coach with the
junior B Kamloops Storm, a position he will continue with as he works with
Blazers goaltenders. Passmore also is involved in the local business
community as a co-owner of the Players Chophouse and Lounge.
Barry Smith said he has talked with Ferguson and Smith about their roles but
that is something that will evolve, at least in part, as the season
progresses.
“I think Smitty will end up helping me a little bit more with the forwards
at some point,” the head coach said, “with Scott running the defence. We
might just flip every five games. I’m confident with both of those guys
being able to do whatever. We’re going to see what everybody is comfortable
with and what their strong points are.”
One thing that isn’t an issue is the coaching depth chart.
“We’re a staff. We’re together,” Smith added. “I’m not about ranking this
guy as the No. 1 guy or the No. 2 guy. It’ll be where we fit in. Our roles
are going to cross over.”
A coaching staff that one year ago featured head coach Dean Clark and
assistants Shane Zulyniak, Andrew Milne, Steve Gainey and Larry Robinson now
has been completely rebuilt.
Also gone is Greg Hawgood, who took over as interim head coach after the
franchise’s new ownership group fired Clark, then the general manager and
head coach, on Nov. 7. Hawgood, who signed a contract through 2008-09 when
he took over, was fired last week.
The Blazers open training camp on Aug. 22 when rookies report to the
Interior Savings Centre.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca