Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community….
The potential exists that the next coach of the Owen Sound Attack could be in place this afternoon and could be announced next week….along with the schedule…along with the Home Opener details for October 8th….along with the Import Draft….along with etc, etc.
It’s an interesting game this ” Chase the Coach ” contest that unfolds from time to time.
Whenever there’s a coaching vacancy in Owen Sound I automatically make a few calls.
Calls to people who know their stuff.
Calls to people I trust, who in turn, trust me.
Remarkably, earlier this week, everyone said essentially the same thing; that it appeared to them that Owen Sound’s next coach would either be Daniel Tkaczuk, as long as Mike Van Ryn didn’t get the NHL job with Phoenix, or Dave Barr.
These sources have no history of wild guesses nor are they prone to pull names out of thin air just to make conversation or gossip.
Still, the stance taken by the Attack this week seems to indicate their ultimate choice would be someone other than the two names mentioned.
In the case of Daniel Tkaczuk, he’s been an effective skills coach but never a Head Coach, and the Attack, who could have 10 fresh faces in the lineup this year apparently don’t want to guide and mentor a new coach along with a heavy group of youthful newcomers.
In the case of Dave Barr, on two previous occasions he’s either been in contention or virtually in place for the Attack job, but bolted for professional opportunities and the Attack reportedly are looking for someone whose eyes are squarely on the Owen Sound club and not swayed by bigger and brighter opportunities elsewhere.
The people I checked with related former Kitchener coach Jay McKee was connected to the Hamilton Bulldogs and in Oshawa, a combination of Eric Wellwood & Kurtis Foster was projected.
Which leaves Owen Sound with……….?
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace.