Grizzlys' new owners bring in new coaches

The Grizzlys' new owners are clearing out the den, bringing in a new coaching staff for next season, while former head coach Dana Lattery will move to an advising role, it was announced during a press conference at the Olds Sportsplex last Wednesday (July 5).

Newly appointed head coach and general manager Adam Redmond comes to the Grizzlys after two years as associate coach with the Calgary Canucks, who finished third in regular season play last year in the AJHL's south division.

Previously, Redmond played for the University of New Brunswick before going on to play minor pro for the Indianapolis Ice in the Central Hockey League. He then returned to Calgary, and took his first coaching position with the Olds Grizzlys, under then head coach Kevin Hasselberg.

Redmond said that he plans to set camps dates, arrange meetings with the current players and talk to prospective recruits over the next week.

"No one wants to be part of a long rebuild," he said, adding the team already has a good foundation with players like Chase Olsen, Tyr Thompson and Jared Power.

Redmond said the plan is to win as many games as possible, making sure that the program is getting stronger, which in turn will draw and keep talented players to the team.

"Obviously the goal is to win, but Brooks is a beast. They are on another level," said Redmond. "Our goal is to get to that level."

Joining Redmond as associate coach and assistant general manager is Joe Murphy, a Didsbury native who played for the Grizzlys from 1992-1995 before heading to the University of Denver as a right wing for their NCAA team. Murphy played pro for eight years in the CHL, AHL, ECHL and in Europe, and has coached for the University of Calgary men's hockey program.

Murphy said there is no big divergence in philosophy with the new staff, and there will be a team-first, player-development focus, with the intention of giving players the opportunity to continue on.

"None of us were five years old thinking we wanted to stop playing at junior," he said. "We all have the eye in the sky for pro hockey and this is part of that path and it can be part of that path, and we hope that path goes through Olds." Murphy said that he joined the Grizzlys as a junior because he saw the team consistently sending players off to play college hockey on full scholarships.

"If we can get these players to come in, believe in what we're doing here, and they're going to have opportunities to go play NCAA or go play CIS," said Murphy, "that's really important ñ to be a springboard for further hockey opportunities."

In addition to the new coaching duo, van Tetering announced that former head coach Dana Lattery would stay on as a special adviser to hockey operations to help with the transition.

"I think he is going to be a key factor in helping us get those kids to come back," said Redmond, in reference to rumours that some players may consider leaving amid the chaos of the ownership change.

"Right now my hope is to go and get everyone to come back. And if that means I have to drive to their house, I'll drive to their house, and show them our plan and hopefully they want to be a part of that."

Redmond said that playing at UNB just as they were starting to build a winning tradition has allowed him to see first-hand how bringing in the right people ñ hard-working people willing to buy in and sacrifice as needed ñ can make a program flourish.

"I think Dana established that," said Redmond. "We don't look to change that philosophy, we want to support that philosophy."

But he said the team needs more than one person leading the charge.

"I think Dana was a little by himself sometimes," he said. "Now there's a lot of good people on board, and with every good person, someone is going to bring something positive to this organization."

Lattery was not in attendance at the press conference, nor available for comment.

In addition to the new coaching staff, van Tetering also introduced the franchise's new business and marketing manager. Mike Bagshaw of Calgary, who has previously worked with the Stampeders and the Flames, will take on the business manager role.

Bagshaw, whose father recently retired as the Calgary Flames' VP of marketing, said his goal is to run the Grizzlys as a true hockey franchise, which means doing a better job of engaging businesses and the community.

But he said, eventually, winning has to be the goal.

"At some point winning is going to be what cures all things," said Bagshaw. "Winning on the ice helps bring people in, and once you get that momentum within the community, that's what will help crystallize things further within the community."