Hartsburg to coach Erie
The head coach position with the Erie Otters is about to be filled and speculation has turned to confirmation that former assistant coach Chris Hartsburg will be returning to take the helm of the Ontario Hockey League team.
Official announcement of the Hartsburg hiring is expected shortly.
After four straight 50-win seasons as the head coach in Erie, Kris Knoblauch recently departed the OHL champion Otters to take an assistant coach position with the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League.
Hartsburg was an assistant in Erie under Knoblauch during the 2013-2014 season before leaving to get head coach experience with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. Hartsburg has spent the past three seasons in Lincoln.
Upon Knoblauch’s departure to the NHL and Philadelphia, it had been immediately speculated by HockeyNewsNorth.com that Hartsburg would be a logical and good choice to return to Erie as head coach of the Otters.
Coaching runs through the bloodlines of the 37-year old Hartsburg. He is the son of now-retired former OHL and NHL coach of considerable note, Craig Hartsburg.