OHL coach to crown prosecutor
If the name of the crown prosecutor who won a conviction in the much-publicized Calgary murder trial of Douglas Garland rings a bell to Ontario Hockey League followers it’s because Shane Parker is a former coach.
Parker coached in the OHL from 1990 to 1997, beginning and ending with the North Bay Centennials and before and after a stint with the Windsor Spitfires.
An assistant coach under the legendary Bert Templeton for three seasons in North Bay, Parker then took over as head coach in Windsor for the 1993-1994 campaign. He then returned to North Bay after Templeton left for the Barrie Colts and was coach-general manager of the Centennials for two full seasons before being fired part way through the 1996-1997 campaign.
After leaving North Bay the second time, Parker returned home to eastern Canada and once back in school, earned his law degree before moving to Calgary and becoming crown prosecutor.
On Thursday of this week, Parker convinced a Calgary jury to find the aforementioned Garland guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of a five-year-old boy and his grandparents.
Garland, 57, had been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the 2014 deaths of five-year-old Nathan O’Brien and Alvin Liknes, 66, and Kathy Liknes, 53, of Calgary.
PHOTO: Calgary crown prosecutor Shane Parker is a former Ontario Hockey League coach.
Shane was a good coach, played for him and Bert in the Bay
Absolutely wonderful article, Randy. After all our years with the Centennials, including Shane Parker’s tenures, we are so glad you picked up on this story. It shows that there can indeed be ‘a life after Jr. hockey’. Thanks so much.
Thank you, Larry B.
Shane Parker wore cowboy boots even then…..better than “don’t fight” Kelly…
Hey Shane is the most fabulous and fantastic person there is alive, he was responsible for bringing the murderer of family members to justice in 2014 our family was brutalized in their home, taken to a Airdrie Farm, where they were tortured and their bodies forever taken from this earth, I thank GOD for him every day, Love ❤️ and GOD’ Grace to You !!!🙏