New coach in Elliot Lake
Years of junior hockey coaching experience is what gave Corey Bricknell the edge in being hired as the new bench boss of the Elliot Lake Wildcats.
The 40-year old Bricknell beat out a field of applicants for the Elliot Lake job that included former Soo Thunderbirds director of hockey operations and general manager Kevin Cain.
The Elliot Lake head coaching position recently became vacant when Nathan Hewitt moved on after two successful seasons with the Wildcats to take a job as associate coach with an Ontario Universities Athletics team.
As for Bricknell, whose many years of coaching includes stops in the Ontario Hockey League, the Ontario Jr. Hockey League and in the NOJHL itself with the Iroquois Falls Eskis, he impressed the Elliot Lake hiring committee led by Wildcats general manager Todd Stencill.
“At the end of the day, we are comfortable with our choice,” Stencill told HockeyNewsNorth.com. “We had good candidates to choose from and Corey’s experience as a junior hockey coach really stood out.”
Bricknell and the Wildcats have agreed on a two-year contract that puts him among the higher-paid coaches in the NOJHL.
As for the man he replaced, Hewitt will be missed in Elliot Lake, said Wildcats president Howard Hennessey.
“Nathan was an integral part of the Wildcat organization, which in two short years positioned our team as one of the top squads in the NOJHL and earned us national recognition,” noted Hennessey.
On the flip side, Hennessey praised the Wildcats new coach, Bricknell.
“Corey is a very personable individual with outstanding coaching credentials and will have an immediate impact on the community and our team,” said Hennessey. “We are extremely privileged to have secured the services of a coach of Corey’s calibre.”
Are there any signings by the Wildcats this year, all I see are players signing elsewhere, thanks.
Congrats to Bricks, great coach and individual, looking forward to playing you on aug 25th buddy!
Remember this, RR, taken from a February, 2016 writing of yours:
“Eskis coach Corey Bricknell wants to settle down in Iroquois Falls to the extent that he would like to buy the team from owner Allan Donnan. Stay tuned”
Wonder what happened??
I’m not so sure someone like Jamie Bernier can coach in this league. Mr. Donnan better pick up the pace or this team won’t last long. Ticket sale s are not where they should be according to the Eskis website.
Blue Liner,
Good question. I don’t know what happened.
Regards,
RR
Blue Liner
The word I got is that Mr Bricknell had bought 49% of the team…….he left to settle some family affair…..he left a few things behind.
That is the rumor going around our big town Blue Liner
Nathan Hewitt will be hard to replace he was hands down the best thing to happen in Elliot Lake. That being said I am pretty confident Corey will be able to fill the big boots he has to fill. I have read Coreys story online and he is a huge inspiration, an advocate for young players and a coach any parent should be please to have their son play under! We are very excited to Welcome Corey to the team and are very sad to say farewell to Nathan but we knew this day would come, we knew Nathan was destined for greatness!!!
So, Abitibian, your saying Mr. Bricknell “had bought” 49% of the team. Does that mean he sold it back or he is coaching one team while being the owner of another??
….both in the NOJHL.
I don’t understand what you are saying.
Congrats to Coach Hewitt. My son had the privilege of playing for the Wildcats in 2014/15 and had nothing but the best to say about this fine gentleman and outstanding Coach. we wish him all the best of success. Many happy memories for my son playing, and me travelling to watch as many games as I was able!