Interesting Times

With the Regina Pats letting go of their coaching staff earlier this week I see Pontiacs head coach Chad Mercier's name popping up as a possible replacement.

This from The Pipeline Show official website at http://www.thepipelineshow.blogspot.com/. Their link is in the blogroll to the right:

5. Chad Mercier-Bonnyville Pontiacs-AJHL

Chad was an assistant coach in Regina for 5 seasons, serving under Lorne Molleken and Bob Lowes. He was passed over for the job when Curtis Hunt was hired, and Mercier headed north to Saskatoon to rejoin Molleken. Mercier is a former Pats goaltender and has strong ties to the club. For the past 3 seasons he's been the bench boss in Bonnyville and led the Pontiacs to a 35 win season and a 4th place finish this year. Mercier reportedly received an interview last year and could be on Brent Parker's radar again this season.

4. Marc Habscheid-Nowhere

Habscheid's name has come up for nearly every vacant WHL job in the last couple of years. But what also usually follows is word that he wants to much money and to much control. He was fired after one season in Boston when Dave Lewis got the axe, and is still getting paid by the Bruins, so he's pretty picky about what job he'll take. He was interviewed last year as well, and was in the running for the job in Prince George from what I heard, but his terms were to high for both teams. He does bring plenty of WHL experience as he coached for 7 years in Kelowna and Kamloops winning the Memorial Cup with the Rockets in 2004. He also coached Canada at the World Junior Championship in 2003.

3. Boris Rybalka-Camrose Kodiaks-AJHL

He's the biggest long shot on the list and some of the polish has come off his reputation after a down year in Camrose this year, but he's won plenty in the past. Up until this year the Kodiaks were perennial RBC favorites and have produced plenty of great players. Mason Raymond, Joe Colborne, Mike Connolly. The question is would Rybalka leave a very cushy gig in Camrose for a possible rebuilding club in Regina?

2. Curtis Hunt-Binghamton Senators-AHL

Did Brent Parker make the move on gassing his head coach today because Curtis Hunt suddenly became available again? I have a hard time believing Hunt would leave the AHL to return to the WHL, but if he was going to be let go by Ottawa for the second time it could happen. Hunt was fired along with Craig Hartsburgh but was given the head coaching job for the Sens farm team in Binghamton. He led the baby Sens to 15 wins in their last 32 games but came up 2 points shy of a post season berth. His name came up several times today in conversations I had about who replaces Derkatch.

1. Dean Brockman-Humboldt Broncos-SJHL

Many people don't know this but I've been told Brockman very quietly received an interview last year before the Pats settled on Dale Derkatch. Did they go for sizzle instead of steak? Some people think so. Brockman is the SJHL's version of Boris Rybalka with more bling. He's coached the Broncos for 11 years and has won 40 plus games the last 3 seasons, including 48 a year ago when Humboldt won a National title beating Rybalka's Kodiaks. The Broncs have won the SJHL title the last 3 years including 08-09 and are back at the RBC looking to defend their title.

Like the Boys said, Mercier would be more likely than Rybalka because of his ties to Regina although both seem to be in pretty good situations right now I'm sure both would at some point in the future want to move up. Is the future for Mercier right now?

With a new contract signed last summer security isn't an issue and I would imagine money isn't either, he has family in town and with a young daughter and newborn son I would think he appreciates the support system. There is also a feeling of unfinished business in Bonnyville. Mercier has been here three years now and has put together solid teams in the last two seasons and with his comments at last Saturday's awards banquet, "it's time to break down that door", it just doesn't seem like the timing is right.

However, these jobs don't come available very often and there has got to be a pull to want to go back to a team you grew up playing on and that gave you your start to your coaching career.

Mind you this is all mere speculation from a bunch of junior hockey bloggers that don't have much else to do but speculate. I have not spoken to Chad about his feelings and I certainly have not talked to the GM of the Pats Brent Parker about who his short list candidates might be.

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Flaming and Milllard are great. I had a chance to work with Flaming when I covered the Edmonton Oilers for Sportsticker. They both really know their stuff.

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Want more Mercier speculation check out Rod Pedersen's blog. Pedersen hasn't offered his short list yet but many of his readers have and if you can't trust a person who posts annonymous comments on a blog then who can you trust.

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Speaking of the Awards Banquet, I did catch up to Chad Mercier after his speach.

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This audio from the players was supposed to be up yesterday if some lady hadn't slammed into my car when it was parked at the Muller Plaza. My poor car was just minding it's own business when Whammy .... oh well. Instead of getting on the blog I spent the day getting estimates.

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