Today was a day I was hoping I wouldn't have to hear about since I started covering Hockey in Melfort.
The Melfort Mustangs Board of Directors last night decided not to renew the contract of Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Darrell Mann.
The writing was on the wall at the start of the year that results had to happen for this hockey team to improve their standing in the post season as they've been on the short end of the stick for a few years.
Darrell did what he had to do to win he brought in the players to win a championship in Haygarth early in the season and Brayden Metz and Cody Hanson at the trade deadline this team was looking good before that point anyway, they had big wins over Yorkton and La Ronge before December 10th and January 10th. Manner always had the winning edge in his attitude which is always a plus in a coach, he was liked by the players, yes some players quit but they didn't put their best effort forward so Darrell didn't need to put up with players that weren't gonna put their best into the team, if you're not gonna give it your all why should he?
The Mustangs were a team that was the least penalized team in the Bauer Conference at the Christmas Break, by the end of the season they were in the top three and in the playoffs the breaks didn't go their way or even bounces. In the La Ronge Series to be honest and this takes nothing away from the abilities of the La Ronge Ice Wolves but this series should probably heading into a game seven tonight, but the Mustangs had alot of fire power and just couldn't get a bounce their way, they did leave it all on the ice.
As for Mann as a part of the organization, really stressed on community involvement with the team, the Mustangs went to just about every school in the area and were guests at special events and helped out in many ways. The Mustangs are one of the most profitable teams in the SJHL and will be heading into the black again when their AGM starts before the season Manner had a huge impact there.
Maybe the best point about Darrell is his ability to recruit some great talent he's brought in some great talent or future talent that he won't get to see develop in a Mustang Uniform but just going through some of the list the Prince Albert Mintos who are on their way to the Telus Cup regionals you look at the Sawyer Lange, Landon Belchamber and Adam Fauchoux, (Tyson Dallman before he got traded to Nipawin) were very capable players on this Mustang Roster for next year... they may still be though with the new coach who ever it may be. This guy knows talent and has buildt this team for the future even with the trades of Levi Cable, Dustin Skilliter and Dallman there's plenty of talent in the rotation.
I think a beneficiary for Manner was his ability to find guys that may have not been the best but he turned them into impact players in certain roles, like a Zach Johnson who was playing Junior B turned into a great role player, the Brant Henry-Norton's, Bo Lenard's and bring Scott Brkich who was and I mean this, going to be sitting in the playoffs before Darrell struck a cord with him and he became the team's playoff MVP he brought out the best in his players that wanted to be great.
From a Broadcasters point of View on Road Trips Manner was a treat to be with him and Cory Unser were awesome on road trips and never turned away from an interview and during some interviews, Yes I make an error once in a while and they would make me sound good for it or politely correct me but when we're off the record they'd let me know what was up which was great, Manner showed me the ropes and got me more into the List players aspect of junior hockey which I had zero knowledge before coming here and of course he had a nickname for me when I got here as I was a little beefy or as Tisdale Trojans Coach Trevor Blevins said I looked like Brutus the Barber Beefcake when I went golfing with Manner and Trevor during the summer so the nickname turned into just BEEF and it's stuck with me as it goes for the Mustangs players too.
The meeting with the Board of Directors yesterday we can confirm it wasn't unanimous just not the vote number I think it came down to one vote we'll never know the final tally but if it did it's unfortunate for that one person to get rid of a local coach who may not have had the best playoff record but the teams he had made money, and brought fans to the palace especially this year as there was almost 2500 fans in the rink for games 3-4 against La Ronge which is pretty impressive and he was a local guy! What more do you want in a coach that's from the area you know the guy is going to stick around? If he did a bad job then fine dismiss him but when he does that for a hockey team playoffs every full season in the fold for the Mustangs, give your head a shake and figure it out I think this is a questionable decision by the board that could cost them dearly down the road. Whoever is the new coach will have some big shoes to fill lets put it that way.
Who is the likely candidate for Darrell Mann's post now? Here are some people that have been thrown around and this is rumor don't get your panties in a knot if it's a current coach that's why its called rumors.
Bob Beatty- Why? Watrous is his home which isn't far from here, lets face it money is a factor why he's in La Ronge could we see Mr. Beatty behind the Melfort Bench? Anything is Possible.
Larry Wintoneak- Dismissed from the Klipps this year could be a suitor.
Gavin Holcomb- Assistant in La Ronge maybe he's looking for his Head Coaching position.
Dave Hrysky- Former Coach of the Hawks I know he applied for the Assistant's Job last year that Cory Unser has now.
Trevor Blevins- Tisdale Trojan Head Coach in SMAAAHL assistant of Mann for 6 years before taking a Head Coaching Job will Mr. Blevins get the Jump to Junior A after one year in Tisdale?
???? Someone out of Province?????? Help me out here and send who you think could be the new bench boss for Melfort.
As for Cory Unser goes a great defensive coach he will be a Head Coach one day but I think if Darrell Mann picks up another job in Saskatchewan or wherever Unser will be going with him they are a great coaching tandem.
Where will Darrell Mann go next?
Some early places say he could be the new man behind the Bench in Estevan where he would work out great still in Saskatchewan as well. I think Estevan would be stupid to not take him.
Kindersley? Is Rockie Zinger safe?
Out of Province??? It would be Alberta or BC just don't know yet who's gonna have openings.
Something I want to bring up and this is just me, why Couldn't he be a GM for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge? A guy that knows Saskatchewan Junior Hockey well would be a great choice if he's not working behind the bench. Team Canada West hasn't done too well at the past couple of years maybe time for a change.
Wherever he's heading he made my job easier and enjoyable to come to the rink and he always talked to everyone Manner I'll miss ya for that and hope a visiting interview will involve you next season Good Luck and we'll see ya sooner then later... Mostly because you live two blocks away from me and Melfort isn't a metropolis... Yet.
BEEF
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