Hartsburg joins Sault Major
This is really good news — as good as it gets — for minor hockey in Sault Ste. Marie. That is, Craig Hartsburg — world class as both a player and a coach — has been appointed to the position of AAA league director by the Sault Major Hockey Association.
A retired National Hockey League player and coach, the soon to be 65 year old Hartsburg is a Sault Ste. Marie area resident who has spent a lifetime in the game.
Hartsburg officially retired from the game in 2016 after an eventful 27 year coaching career that included 19 seasons in the NHL and successful stints in the Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League. As a player, Hartsburg had a world class career as an all-star defenseman with both the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL and the erstwhile Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. As an on-ice leader, he was captain of the Greyhounds for two of his three OHL seasons and was captain of the North Stars for seven of his 10 NHL seasons. He was a first round OHL pick to the Greyhounds and a first round NHL pick to Minnesota.
As for his new role with Sault Major as AAA league director, Hartsburg shared his thoughts and goals with Hockey News North.
“First off, I am looking forward to working with the new board members as well as the returning members,” he began. “My focus will be mainly on the hockey side and we will try to help raise the standards of our AAA teams. Development of our young people both on and off the ice should be the focus of our programs! We are looking forward to having a complete buy in by all the coaches and managers.”
Hartsburg added that, “we will also need full support and cooperation from the City as well. Ice time here is at a premium as we all know … we need to work as close to the City as possible so we can run a truly elite AAA program in Sault Ste. Marie.”
Hartsburg also noted that he hopes to get more people involved in the local hockey program.
“There are a lot of good hockey people here in the Sault,” Hartsburg further relayed to Hockey News North. “I am hoping to get more people to help. Whether it is skill development, skating, goaltending or coaching, I am really looking forward to trying to get our kids top notch development and conditioning.”
What a great move bringing Craig in to oversee the operation. A professional and business approach will
Certainly be evident.
I wish Craig the very best. He is also a class guy
Joe Drago