Tanner Burton takes the helm

This comes as no surprise. This is the right hire. The varsity men’s hockey team at Sault College has a new head coach. He is Tanner Burton, who moves up from assistant coach to the bench boss of the hockey Cougars.

Burton takes the helm of the Cougars from Mike Hall, who earlier this season retired as the head coach of Sault College’s Division 2, American Collegiate Hockey Association men’s program. Hall, who had been with the Cougars since their debut ACHA season of 2018-2019, had recommended Burton as his successor.

The 34-year old Burton, who was Hall’s much respected assistant coach this past season after a year on the bench with the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League, had an impressive playing career.

Hailing from Echo Bay, Burton was a steady, overachieving defenceman through two seasons in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with the Blind River Beavers. He then played at the Division 3, National Collegiate Athletic Association level for the Marian University Sabres, spending four years at the Wisconsin school and graduating with a degree in Accounting and Finance. Not done as a player, Burton played several seasons in the Southern Professional Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League before heading overseas to finish his playing career in the Alps Hockey League. He has since put his degree from Marian to good use, working in the accounting office for Sal-Dan Developments in the Sault.

Prior to being an assistant coach with the ACHA Cougars and the U18 Jr. Greyhounds, Burton served as the head coach for the ACHA men’s hockey team at Wisconsin-based Concordia University while pursuing his Masters of Business Administration degree.

Fast forward to now, Paul Orazietti, who is the head of the athletics department at Sault College, used the word “thrilled” to confirm the hiring of Burton as the new head coach of the Cougar men.

“We are thrilled to have Tanner lead our men’s hockey program,” Orazietti began. “His knowledge, energy and extensive ACHA experience will no doubt be a winning formula for the Cougars in their quest for a second national championship. (Sault College men won the 2019 title at the Division 3 level of the ACHA.) We are confident that Tanner will also build on the tremendous foundation and winning tradition that Mike Hall has left him.”

Meanwhile, Charly Murray, who is the head scout and recruiter for the Sault College men, had made his support for Burton well known before the official elevation from assistant coach to head coach.

“This is a young man who has been groomed for this position,” Murray relayed to Hockey News North. “Tanner is very well respected by the players and by any of us who have an association to the Sault College men’s hockey program. As far as I am concerned there was only way to go on this and that was to hire Tanner as the new head coach of our men’s hockey team. I am looking forward to working with him as we try to to bring another national men’s hockey championship to Sault College.”

As for Burton — who just recently interviewed for the job with a three-person committee of Sault College administrators — he told Hockey News North that he “can’t wait to get going” in his new position.

“I am excited to continue to be part of Sault Collège and I can’t wait to continue adding value to such a strong and reputable men’s hockey program that Mike, his staff, and the college have built,” he relayed.

As for his staff, Burton confirmed that veteran holdover Zoltan (Toots) Kovacs will return as an assistant coach for the 2023-2024 season as will goalie coach Matt Walker. Burton also hopes to confirm the addition of several newcomers to the staff after conferring with athletics department management.

Meanwhile, besides potential incoming recruits for the 2023-2024 season, the Cougars can return a number of players including the explosive first line of captain Caleb Wood, Gregory Trudeau-Paquet and Ethan Esposito, who are all in position to return to Sault College in the fall.

Wood led the Cougar men in scoring during the 2022-2023 season with 29 goals, 22 assists, 51 points in 25. games. Right behind Wood were Trudeau-Paquet with 18 goals, 32 assists, 50 points and Esposito with 16 goals, 26 assists, 42 points. Of note, Wood and Trudeau-Paquet are both former standout players from the NOJHL. And Wood and Esposito are both Sault Ste. Marie products.

Looking ahead and under the direction of new coach Burton, the Cougars will be holding a Spring Skate on June 3-4 at the new Northern Community Centre on Goulais Ave. in the Sault’s west end. The Northern Community Centre will serve as the home rink for both the Sault College men and Sault College women hockey teams effective the 2023-2024 season.