The Innisfail Eagles' deck of cards has been shuffled as the team prepares to move into Senior AAA hockey play next year.
Jason Lenz, Ryan Dodd and Dez Lorencz have been added to the management team while former board member Lee Kemp is no longer part of the picture.
The off-ice tweaking is meant to inject new life into the squad as the team hopes to seize the opportunity to challenge for the Allan Cup in the organization's 66th year.
“We're all just getting started,” said head coach Brian Sutter. “You've gotta think long-term and be ready to work for it.”
Lenz, who was an assistant coach during the Eagles' championship run last year, was named general manager. He spent years in Bentley in the early 2000s as they put together a Senior hockey machine. His knowledge of behind-the-scenes processes will be an asset to the management team, according to Sutter.
“Lenzy's got the experience,” he said. “He knows what's going on. He knows the protocol and the structure in place.”
Dodd grew up playing hockey in Innisfail, including four years of Junior hockey and 10 seasons with the Eagles. He returns to the Eagles as assistant general manager.
Lorencz, who will take the reins as director of hockey operations, comes with a wealth of local experience. He has been involved with the Innisfail Minor Hockey Association since 2005, adding the Frank Risler Memorial Award for coach of the year to his shelf in 2009, and with the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association since 2007.
“They want to be involved with a winning organization,” Sutter said of the additions. “Staying the same isn't good enough – we've gotta get better.”
The new management team will now begin to comb through the data of potential players, looking to create the most successful group possible.
The Eagles will hold their public annual general meeting Wednesday June 12 at 7 p.m. at the Innisfail Twin Arena meeting room.
The organization's 3rd Annual Eagles Charity Golf Tournament will take place July 25. Contact Mike Bennett 403-391-3425 or Randy Graham 403-358-6617 for more information.
