Good for David Matsos
He is known as a good guy in the inner and outer circles of the Ontario Hockey League. And the recent hiring of David Matsos as head coach is seen as a good move by the reigning OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs.
Matsos, who was the Bulldogs associate coach when Hamilton hammered its way to OHL glory in 2017-2018, is taking the helm from John Gruden, who landed a job as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League earlier this summer.
The elevation of Matsos to replace Gruden was somewhat expected though not a guarantee as Bulldogs president and general manager Steve Staios did due diligence in interviewing a series of qualified candidates before opting to promote his long-time friend to the head coach post in Hamilton.
Just over a year ago, Matsos was brought in to Hamilton from the Sudbury Wolves as the hand-picked choice of Staios prior to the start of the 2017-2018 season.
But strong friendship with Matsos aside, those who know Staios, a Hamilton native who built the Bulldogs into an OHL champion in just two years as the GM, also know that doing what is best for the franchise will always be top priority.
So, suffice to say that Matsos got the nod as Hamilton’s new head coach because Staios truly believes that his friend is the best man for the job.
To be sure, the 44-year old Matsos — who won a Memorial Cup as a player with the Soo Greyhounds in 1993 — has serious experience as an OHL coach in addition to the championship season that he spent in Hamilton.
Besides four full seasons in Sudbury — two and a half as head coach and a season and a half as associate — Matsos was an assistant with the Windsor Spitfires for three years.
And before that, Matsos was a head coach at the professional level in Sheffield, England for four years and won three championships in that span.
Matsos also has a clean reputation as a respected, respectful individual who relates well to his players and who was a good team player himself.
Three of his former teammates from the Greyhounds Memorial Cup championship team of 1993 who I often communicate with — goalie Kevin Hodson and defensemen Drew Bannister and Mark Matier — all speak highly of the character and integrity that Matsos has.
And aforementioned Hamilton GM Staios noted what Matsos brought to the Bulldogs during the 2017-2018 championship season.
“Dave came in last year and was a massive part of our championship season,” Staios began. “He has the respect of our players and has an understanding of our team identity.”
From his end, Matsos noted the perspective that the Hamilton franchise has.
“The Bulldogs have a vision in place from ownership all the way down.” says Matsos. “With this being my ninth year in the league, I am confident I know our players, the league and have what it takes to have success.
“When I came into Hamilton and joined this staff I think there was a vision in place and, you know, these guys really held up to their end of the bargain,” Matsos added. “I love the city … love the team … love the colours, everything. I’m really, really excited to accept and take the position as head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs.”
Meanwhile, as Matsos moves up to head coach, there is a rebuild going on with the Bulldogs, one that has already started with the trading of overage defenseman Jack Hanley to the Guelph Storm for three future draft picks — a second rounder, a third and a fourth.
As it re-stocks and moves on from so many key graduated players from the 2017-2018 OHL title team, Hamilton is projected to finish in the lower level of the Eastern Conference in 2018-2019.
Thus, it will be up to Matsos to mind the store, hold serve, and develop the younger players while Staios and his scouts position the Bulldogs for the future.
Talk to anyone about Matsos and the feeling is mostly mutual — Hamilton got the right guy to lead the Bulldogs from behind the bench.
Good things seem to have a way of working out for good people.
And the Bulldogs have a good man and a good coach in a good position as they move on from their OHL season of championship success.