Head coach Ken Pearson gave his resignation last weekend, a move that had been in the works for quite some time, in order to accept the head coaching gig in Winkler, where he will be closer to his two kids.
With his background with NHL Central Scouting, it's not surprising that Ken did a terrific job of finding his grads good places to play. That track record probably had a lot to do with some of the quality players the Stars recruited the last couple of years.
The on-ice results were mixed. Last year was a massive disappointment for a team I had pegged to win the north. Despite all the talent on that roster, something was off and they didn't make it out of the survivor series.
On the other hand, who could forget the 15-win team of 2008-09 that proceeded to knock off the Nipawin Hawks and take the powerhouse Humboldt Broncos to six games? That floored just about everybody.
Pearson was a well-respected coach who will be missed in the Battlefords, but it's good to see him closer to home in his old stomping grounds of Winkler.
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The new coach will be dealing with a new play-by-play man this season. Dan O'Connor, one of the league's best talents, is heading to the Prince George Cougars to fulfill his dream of calling WHL games.
Dan will be sorely missed in SJ circles. In less than three years, I've come to admire his way of treating people, his passion for the job and his preparation. I had the pleasure of appearing on his Sports Fix program three times and enjoyed each one.
Dan is a consummate professional and calls a great game. It was only a matter of time before he got called up, and it's good to see him heading back to BC, even if it's a long way from home.
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As for the Bruins, Keith Cassidy continues to kick the tires on the trade front, likely focusing on a veteran forward, but it looks like nothing is imminent, including a deal to send Matt Szpak and/or Brett Rock to Alberta.
He said Dallas Jorgensen, acquired from Nipawin earlier this week, will be counted on as a stay-at-home vet and his ice time will depend on his showing at training camp.
Meanwhile, Ryan Ostertag and Eric Baldwin have been spending the last few weeks with the Northern Connecticut Wings. Their time is drawing to an end, but judging from this tweet, it looks like Ostertag got a nasty parting gift courtesy of a hit from behind:
Check next week's Mercury for the story.
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