OHL coaches corner
One vacant coaching position in the Ontario Hockey League has been filled and other plum jobs remain open as summer turns to July.
Saginaw Spirit recently moved to replace associate coach Ryan Kuwabara with the hiring of Jared Nightingale.
Having grown up in the small northern Michigan town of Cheboygan — which is less than 75 miles south of the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie — the 36-year old Nightingale has prior assistant coaching experience with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program as well as with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League.
During his playing days as a defenseman, Nightingale skated for the erstwhile Soo Indians of the North American Hockey League for two full seasons before embarking on a four-year collegiate career with the Michigan State University Spartans. He then played parts of 13 seasons in the minor pro ranks.
As Nightingale has signed on in Saginaw, its Michigan-based rival Flint Firebirds are still in the process of rounding out their coaching staff under bench boss Eric Wellwood. Flint is poised to hire a new associate and a new assistant.
And over in Guelph, the OHL champion Storm has an opening on its staff with former associate coach Jake Grimes having taken a head coach position in the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League.
When Jake Grimes went to Cape Breton, Guelph Storm hired North Bay native Ken Peroff as their new Assistant Coach. Peroff played with North Bay Skyhawks, 4 seasons with Brampton Battalion, 4 years with U of Guelph Gryphons, and then coached Hamilton Kiltys Jr. B for 2 years (with 2 Coach of the Year Awards).
Hope I have all the numbers right. The full story is on ‘Bay Today’.
Well done, and good luck Ken.