Icedogs review options after assistant coach’s departure
A number of possibilities are being considered following Mancari’s decision not to come back
The makeup of the Niagara Icedogs coaching staff heading into the 2020-21 Ontario Hockey League season remains up in the air, following the departure of Mark Mancari.
The team announced Mancari’s departure after one season as an assistant on head coach Billy Burke’s staff last Thursday. In past years, a search for a replacement would have been “full-on” by now, but the Icedogs may take a different approach this time.
Replacing Mancari with one or two assistants is under consideration by general manager Joey Burke in a possible “restructuring,” as is going forward with only Billy Burke and associate coach Jody Hull behind the bench.
“That’s something Joey and myself have been talking about for the past couple of weeks. How we want to go about it,” Burke said. “In the past, when one guy leaves, you go full-on in the search to replace him.
“We’re still deciding as a staff, what direction we want to go.”
Billy Burke, entering his fourth season as head coach after eight years as an assistant with the Icedogs, is sorry family commitments and a daily commute to London, Ont., prevented Mancari from staying with the team.
“It is disappointing to not have him return, but I understand where he is coming from. With three young kids and doing the drive to and from London twice a day, it is taxing,” Burke said. “I can’t thank him enough for all of his hard work and dedication this season.
Mancari, 34, joined the Icedogs staff for his first coaching role after a 14-year career in the National Hockey League and American Hockey League, as well as the premier league in Germany.
He worked primarily with Niagara’s forwards and played a “large role” in the team’s penalty kill.
“He was certainly a huge part of the staff,” Burke said.
“I would have loved to have him back this year,” he added.
“Mark is a great guy and has a bright future in coaching.”
Mancari is disappointed he won’t be able to build on the work he started last season, helping with development of the team’s younger players.
“Unfortunately, Niagara and I have mutually agreed that I will not be returning next season, as the commute from London to Niagara every day became a challenge,” he said. “I would like to thank the Niagara Icedogs organization for giving me the opportunity to part of the coaching staff. A lot of friendships have been made and I will cherish them.”
Icedogs coaches and players eligible to return for another year haven’t been together since the league cancelled the remaining 56 games of the regular season and, subsequently, the playoffs and Memorial Cup tournament due to COVID-19.
“I’ve been in touch with them over text,” Burke said.
“Hopefully, the restrictions can continue to loosen up, and we can have the all players back into St. Catharines for an official year-end barbecue or something.”
Trainer Chris Trivieri and equipment manager Nick Hornby have been helping players remotely with their off-season training regimens.
“Chris and Nick have done a great job ensuring every guy has a program specifically designed for what they need,” Billy Burke said.
They have tweaked the individuals’ programs further, since gyms and rinks are among the facilities that remain shuttered to contain spread of the virus.
“Things have been shifted more to what guys can do at home, what type of resources they have in their basements and in their local communities that they can use,” the coach said.
“Even though it’s not ideal, we’re fortunate with all of our technologies that we’re able to keep in touch pretty well with everybody.”
Burke said, with everybody in the same boat as a result of the pandemic, hockey has taken a back seat.
“It’s bigger than sports right now, so we have to make sure we do our part and take care of each other,” he said. “Hopefully, we can get a vaccine and get going back to a normal life as soon as possible.”