Coach benched during inquiry
Victoria Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon is suspended from his duties with the team pending completion of an investigation by the B.C. Hockey League after he was found guilty of professional misconduct by B.C.’s Teacher Regulation Branch.
According to a disciplinary document, Didmon — a teacher in the Sooke school district and head coach of a school hockey academy — admitted to buying alcohol and drinking with Grizzlies players, some of whom were students in the district, between 2012 and 2014.
“He’s our head coach and GM. He’s under suspension, and we’re going to fill in during the meantime and look into the entire situation ourselves,” said Grizzlies part-owner and director of operations Jim Swanson.
The off-season is “not a crucial time to have somebody in that spot. It may be fortunate timing in that sense.”
Team officials said Didmon is expected to remain with the Grizzlies, but will likely not be on the ice during the team’s spring camp next week.
Didmon was unavailable for comment on Friday.
The team is taking the issue seriously, Swanson said. “It’s not the 1970s anymore and these are real issues that need to be addressed,” he said, stressing the infractions were committed prior to his and most of the new ownership group’s involvement.
There have been “no issues” recently, he said.
“I’ve gone on road trips with the team [last season],” said Swanson, who joined the club during 2014-15.
“I know exactly what the behaviour patterns are and what the travel patterns are, and nobody has changed them since I’ve been here.”
No one from the BCHL was made available for comment on the situation on Friday.
According to the disciplinary document, Didmon also admitted to using school time to attend to the team, sometimes using sick leave, and misrepresenting the school district when talking to a private hockey academy about a potential partnership.
Didmon has agreed to a two-week teaching suspension and is required to complete an ethics course by May 30.
He was removed from coaching at the school hockey academy and returned to teaching last April, the document says.
The school district suspended Didmon without pay in June 2014, and required him to pay a half month of his wages over the first two weeks of September 2014.
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re behind him 100 per cent, said Grizzlies governor Lance Black. “This has already been dealt with in the past. He’s served his time.”
Black said the B.C. Hockey League will be dealing with the issue next week.
“I’ve talked to the commissioner, and the board of governors will look at it, but as I’ve said, how can you penalize a guy twice? It doesn’t make sense to me.”