Rangers begin hunt for coach
Candidates with junior and minor professional experience have applied
KITCHENER — The search for a new Kitchener Rangers coach is officially on. General manager Mike McKenzie has started reaching out to interested candidates and has held preliminary interviews as he works his way toward a short list for the vacant bench-boss job at the Aud.
McKenzie took over as coach in late November after firing Jay McKee. Under McKenzie’s guidance, the Rangers won 33 of 42 Ontario Hockey League games, but the move wasn’t meant to be permanent.
“We have definitely started moving forward,” said McKenzie. “Any time you open up the position of a head coach in Kitchener, or anywhere in our league, you’re going to get a lot of resumés floating in from all over the place.”
Former junior hockey coaches have applied, as well as assistants looking to move into the big chair. Some minor pro coaches are also interested.
Just don’t expect a marquee name.
“I know Kitchener is a great spot and we have a great organization, but the OHL is a stepping-stone league and a development league for most people,” said McKenzie. “We’re not fielding resumés from guys at the NHL level.”
Rangers assistant coaches Andreas Karlsson and Dennis Wideman are in the running but, right now, the focus is elsewhere.
“I’m trying to figure out who some other people are,” said McKenzie. “I have a pretty good handle on who and what type of people they (Karlsson and Wideman) are.”
The successful candidate will share a similar vision already set in place from management down to the current coaching staff. The person will have a knack for player development, be able to communicate with teenagers, roll with the ups and downs of junior hockey and know how to manage people.
“I think that’s probably one of the most overlooked things in coaching,” said McKenzie.
Of course, there is always a chance McKenzie returns in the interim due to all the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We don’t know when we’re starting, if we’re starting, is it a shortened season, is there no season?” the GM said. “We’re leaving all options open at this point, but we’ve definitely started speaking with people that have interest with us.”
BENCH CLEARING: The Rangers aren’t the only OHL club in the hunt for a new bench boss. Kingston fired coach Kurtis Foster on Wednesday. The skipper went 33-91-3-3 in his two years as skipper with a rebuilding Frontenacs squad . ... Meanwhile, Barrie slapped an interim tag on coach Todd Miller when he took over for Warren Rychel in late January . ... Hamilton Bulldogs president and GM Steve Staios grabbed the reins in Steeltown after letting coach Vince Laise go with just eight games remaining in the regular season. But Staios said at the time the move wasn’t permanent.
NHL AT THE AUD?: Reports that the NHL may play out the rest of its season in select locations in the summer is intriguing. If Toronto — or Ontario — is chosen, would the Aud be used for games or practices to help alleviate the strain on rinks? Don’t get your hopes up. The City of Kitchener has not been contacted by the NHL, according to staff.