Niagara IceDogs clean house after OHL review
After a tumultuous season, the Niagara IceDogs are making major changes. The team announced Wednesday that owner and governor Darren DeDobbelaer will step back from day-to-day operations in hockey and business, while head coach Ben Boudreau has been fired. The contracts of assistant coaches Dan Paille and Marc Slawson also will not be renewed. During the season, the OHL announced that a Toronto law firm specializing in workplace law was conducting an investigation of the team’s organizational culture. Wednesday’s changes were announced following the OHL’s review of the team. The team also was disciplined during the playoffs after an incident during a showing of “Black Bag” at a movie theatre in an area mall on March 25, Josh Sweetland of the OHL confirmed in a story in the St. Catharines Standard. The Standard was told by a moviegoer that the “absolutely egregious behaviour” included yelling and “throwing food across the room.” The discipline, as laid out in a statement also sent by Sweetland to Sportsnet, forced each player in the IceDogs lineup to sit for one period of their first-round series against the Barrie Colts. The IceDogs lost the series 4-1. “I’m incredibly proud to own the Niagara IceDogs and be able to have this great franchise compete in the Ontario Hockey League,” said DeDobbelaer in a statement. “While this season brought several challenges, our focus remains on building a positive and stable environment for our players, staff, and fans.” Boudreau is the son of longtime NHL coach Bruce Boudreau, who is listed as a senior adviser for the team. Current general manager Wes Consorti will serve as the executive liaison between DeDobbelaer and the club’s operational leadership. The team’s announcement says the IceDogs will work with the OHL to hire a new GM and coach.
After a tumultuous season, the Niagara IceDogs are making major changes.
The team announced Wednesday that owner and governor Darren DeDobbelaer will step back from day-to-day operations in hockey and business, while head coach Ben Boudreau has been fired. The contracts of assistant coaches Dan Paille and Marc Slawson also will not be renewed.
During the season, the OHL announced that a Toronto law firm specializing in workplace law was conducting an investigation of the team’s organizational culture.
Wednesday’s changes were announced following the OHL’s review of the team.
The team also was disciplined during the playoffs after an incident during a showing of “Black Bag” at a movie theatre in an area mall on March 25, Josh Sweetland of the OHL confirmed in a story in the St. Catharines Standard.
The Standard was told by a moviegoer that the “absolutely egregious behaviour” included yelling and “throwing food across the room.”
The discipline, as laid out in a statement also sent by Sweetland to Sportsnet, forced each player in the IceDogs lineup to sit for one period of their first-round series against the Barrie Colts.
The IceDogs lost the series 4-1.
“I’m incredibly proud to own the Niagara IceDogs and be able to have this great franchise compete in the Ontario Hockey League,” said DeDobbelaer in a statement. “While this season brought several challenges, our focus remains on building a positive and stable environment for our players, staff, and fans.”
Boudreau is the son of longtime NHL coach Bruce Boudreau, who is listed as a senior adviser for the team.
Current general manager Wes Consorti will serve as the executive liaison between DeDobbelaer and the club’s operational leadership.
The team’s announcement says the IceDogs will work with the OHL to hire a new GM and coach.
