OLDS — Right in the middle of the exhibition season, the Olds Grizzlys junior A hockey team is looking for a new head coach and general manager.
The team announced Monday, Aug. 28 that head coach/GM Scott Atkinson had submitted his resignation for personal reasons, effective immediately.
The team is looking for someone to fill the role on an interim basis “to ensure stability of hockey operations and bring continuity to the roster build that has occurred over the past week of tryouts and training camp,” Olds Grizzlys Society president Josh Erdman announced in a news release.
“The team recognizes that this is a critical time of year for players and prospective players,” Erdman said in that release.
The release added that “all team activities will continue as planned during exhibition and leading into the regular season, and the Grizzlys will provide further update once interim appointments are officially made early this week.”
The club thanked Atkinson for serving it over the past three-and-a-half years.
“Coach Atkinson brought our organization a breadth of experience, an outstanding work ethic, and he excelled at player skill development. We wish him and his family all the best in the future,” Erdman added in the news release.
On Aug. 26 in exhibition play, the Grizzlys were downed 5-2 by the Calgary Canucks in Calgary. They play the Sherwood Park Crusaders Aug. 31 during a pre-season tournament.
The Grizzlys first home exhibition game is Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. p.m. in the Sportsplex.
