In April 2001 I was hired to coach the Lakehead University Thunderwolves. Before that time, I had never been to Thunder Bay, and knew little about Lakehead University. The day I came to Thunder Bay changed my life and that of my family forever.
When hired to coach the Thunderwolves, I set two goals; one was to win the national championship and the other was to help to build the best University hockey program in Canada. During my coaching tenure, the team has had a strong winning record, and even better home record, and is undefeated in home playoff games.
Last year we won the OUA Queens Cup and a silver medal at the Nationals, but we fell short by one goal in winning a national championship. But I am very proud of the fact that the Thunderwolves hockey organization is now recognized as one of the best University hockey programs in Canada.
I cannot leave this program without expressing my sincere gratitude to Lakehead University and the private sector investors who together gave me the opportunity to build this team and help build this organization. I have been extremely fortunate to work with some tremendous local people as coaches and trainers who have made every day an enjoyable experience and helped to make this program as successful as it is. I was privileged to coach some great hockey players and even greater people who came to Thunder Bay from all parts of Canada to play in this unique University environment.
I regret that I will not be part of hosting the Nationals in 2009 and 2010. But I leave the program with nothing but great memories and a sincere debt of gratitude for the opportunity that I was given to be part of this team and part of this community.
While it is never enjoyable to have your employer tell you that they intend to head in a different direction, every coach accepts his eventual termination as a part of his coaching career; especially in a program where the need to win and to generate revenues is so important.
If I choose to stay within the game of hockey, I will be forced to leave Thunder Bay, a move that my family would sincerely regret. On the other hand, if an opportunity arises outside the game of hockey, my wife and I would very much like to consider a change in career and an opportunity to make Thunder Bay our home. Our daughter came to Lakehead and obtained her Masters degree and she is establishing roots here.
If given the opportunity to make the same decision that I made back in 2001, I would jump at it in a minute. This opportunity has taught me a lot about myself and a lot about the things that are very important in life. Whatever the future holds, I have enjoyed the last 6 years and I wish the hockey program nothing but success in the future.