RiverHawks open 2018-19 with new head coach
Tim Barath takes over as bench boss after two seasons as an assistant
The Niagara RiverHawks will open the 2018-19 Provincial Junior Hockey League season with a new head coach and a new director of player development.
Tim Barath, an assistant coach with the Niagara Falls-based team for the past two seasons, succeeds Rob DeGiuli as head coach, while DeGiuli joins the executive management team as associate general manager and director of player development.
DeGiuli served two seasons as the RiverHawks’ bench boss.
Barath is looking forward to the opportunity.
“It’s always a bit of a challenge in this area recruiting players at this level, but I’m confident with the core group of returning players and some new additions we will be able to ice a competitive team this season,” the 40-year-old Niagara Falls native and former RiverHawks player said.
President and general manager Fred Sacco likewise is optimistic heading into the upcoming season.
“We have about 13 or 14 eligible players able to return, so that’s a bonus and a good start.”
The R’Hawks finished the 201718 regular season sixth in the South Bloomfield Division with a 12-23-3-4 record in league play. They lost to the third-seeded Port Dover Sailors four games to three in the opening round of the playoffs.
Joining Barath behind the bench as assistant coaches will be Chris Sacco, who will back for a third season, and newcomer Jon Lowe, who comes to the RiverHawks with extensive experience coaching minor hockey at the triple and double A levels in Niagara Falls.
Chief operating officer Mick Wolfe and associate general manager and vice-president of hockey operations Winston Auld make up the executive management team along with DeGiuli and Sacco.
William Leskiw, Buddy Lowe and Sacco are the co-owners of the locally owned team.
Thursday will again be the team’s regular night for home games.
Training camp opens with an 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. session Monday, Aug. 20, at Gale Centre. Another session, 8 p.m. until 10 p.m., takes place Wednesday, Aug. 22, also at Gale Centre, with the team participating in a tournament Aug. 24-26 in Pelham.
Other training camp sessions: Monday, Aug. 27, 8:30-9:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 4, 7-9 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 5, 8-10 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 6, 7-9 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 7, 7-10 p.m.
Registration for the tryouts are available online on the team’s website at jrcriverhawks.pointstreaksites.com/view/jrcriverhawks/home-page.