Hockey
Change With Giants
No one wants to see anyone fired as a Coach, but the Vancouver Giants were (apparently) in need of a change, not necessarily for with the Coaching staff, but to some of the players as well.
The hiring in the off-season with Troy Ward as the Head Coach seemed at the time the right choice, given the fact that he was the Head Coach for the Abbotsford Pilots who left Abbotsford, like a shattered bride.
This change is only due to the fact that someone had to go and as we all know the scape goat is the Coach and not necessarily the GM of the Club.
The change comes at a time when the Giants were on the skids and let’s face it, the team has been plagued with injuries that have clearly not helped them move up in the standings – thus the change.
So in the interim the one’s behind the bench will be Matt Erhart will be behind the bench along with Yogi and Trainer turned Coach Ian Gallagher.
The change for the Coach Troy Ward of his duties as Head Coach is effective immediately and the Giants are obviously in need of someone strong to take over and one has to ask – is Matt only the interim Coach or will he be promoted on a full time basis?
“Obviously with where we are in the standings, it just wasn’t working with Troy,” said Giants General Manager Scott Bonner. “This is the unfortunate part of sports, but we thought change was needed. We wish Troy all the best in the future.”
Assistant Coach Matt Erhart has been named the club’s Interim Head Coach while Strength and Conditioning Coach Ian Gallagher and Skills Coach Yogi Svejkovsky will serve as assistants.
I for one question the fact that injuries played a huge role in his dismissal, but you can’t get blood out of a stone – simply put not winning, meant his release.
Oh yea – do I think he will resurface – yes and probably back in the AHL.
This change comes at a time shortly after the Giants failed to get the bid to host the 2016 Memorial Cup Championship as they were passed over for Red Deer, who have a smaller arena in which to seat fans.
Questions still arise – how and why Red Deer? You tell me??
Troy’s Record:
1987-88 | Hawkesbury Hawks | CJHL | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 41 | ||||||
1987-88 | Smiths Falls Bears | CJHL | 36 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 132 | ||||||
1988-89 | Hawkesbury Hawks | CJHL | 46 | 6 | 22 | 28 | 160 | ||||||
1988-89 | Smiths Falls Bears | CJHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Embed Troy Ward stats! | View as text
Season | Team | Lge | Type | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pct | Result |
1990-91 | U. of Denver | WCHA | Assistant | |||||||
1991-92 | U. of Denver | WCHA | Assistant | |||||||
1992-93 | U. of Denver | WCHA | Assistant | |||||||
1993-94 | Dubuque Fighting Saints | USHL | Head | 48 | 29 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0.625 | |
1994-95 | Dubuque Fighting Saints | USHL | Head | 48 | 24 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0.563 | |
1995-96 | Indianapolis Ice | IHL | Assistant | |||||||
1996-97 | Indianapolis Ice | IHL | Assistant | |||||||
1997-98 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | Assistant | |||||||
1998-99 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | Assistant | |||||||
1999-00 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | Assistant | |||||||
2000-01 | Trenton Titans | ECHL | Head | 72 | 50 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0.722 | Lost in Finals |
2002-03 | U. of Wisconsin | WCHA | Assistant | |||||||
2003-04 | U. of Wisconsin | WCHA | Associate | |||||||
2004-05 | U. of Wisconsin | WCHA | Associate | |||||||
2005-06 | Victoria Salmon Kings | ECHL | Head‡ | 34 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0.471 | Out of Playoffs |
2007-08 | Houston Aeros | AHL | Assistant | |||||||
2008-09 | Houston Aeros | AHL | Assistant | |||||||
2009-10 | Houston Aeros | AHL | Assistant | |||||||
2010-11 | Abbotsford Heat | AHL | Assistant | |||||||
2011-12 | Abbotsford Heat | AHL | Head | 76 | 42 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 0.605 | Lost in round 2 |
2012-13 | Abbotsford Heat | AHL | Head | 76 | 34 | 32 | 0 | 10 | 0.513 | Out of Playoffs |
2013-14 | Abbotsford Heat | AHL | Head | 76 | 43 | 25 | 0 | 8 | 0.618 | Lost in round 1 |