WellandDogsFan
02-14-2008, 08:25 PM
Falcons fire coach/GM Dave Cole
Former coach Garry Lariviere will take over as head coach and general manager for the rest of the year
Posted By Bill Potrecz
Posted 2 hours ago
Months of speculation finally came to fruition Thursday when then St. Catharines Falcons terminated coach and general manager David Cole.
Associate coach Mark Barrick, goaltender coach Paul Gallardi and the rest of the staff were also let go.
Former coach Garry Lariviere will take over as head coach and general manager for the rest of the year and be behind the bench tonight when the Falcons play host to the Niagara Falls Canucks in the first of an important home-and-home series. Lariviere’s son Trevor Lariviere will act as an assistant.
Falcons president Jim Goldwin presented Cole with a letter relieving him of his duties before practice Thursday morning. Players were told upon arrival at Jack Gatecliff Arena that practice was cancelled and that a meeting would be held with the new coaching staff later in the day.
Cole appeared in a state of shock a few hours later when discussing the situation.
“I feel extremely beat up and exhausted,” he said from the coaching office. “It’s been a constant battle.”
Goldwin explained the decision, although he refused to discuss specifics.
“We had a meeting and discussed a lot of issues and there were things that weren’t happening as far as the board was concerned and we decided now would be the time to make the change.
“There’s more than just the hockey side involved.
“It’s been very difficult. You get to know people and . . . It’s very tough, but at the end of the day we have to do what the club feels is right.”
The move comes with just four regular season games remaining and the Falcons tied for second place with Niagara Falls, just three points behind the league-leading Thorold Blackhawks.
Goldwin admitted the timing isn’t ideal.
“Yes and no,” he said when asked if he worried about making such a drastic move so late in the season. “It’s never a good time, but going forward we need to get back on track.”
The move puts an end to a strained relationship between Cole and Goldwin. In late October, there was an attempt to have Cole removed, but the of the board of directors had a change of heart after a meeting with Cole and his staff and decided to stand pat. At that point, Goldwin took a leave of absence as president, but returned a few weeks later.
A meeting was then held to clear the air, but Cole indicated he and Goldwin have not spoken since.
“Today (Thursday) was the first day (since the meeting) that I’ve spoken to Jim Goldwin,” Cole said. “I was told that communication was the problem and that steps would be taken to rectify the communication.
“I was optimistic we’d be able to move forward.”
Instead, the speculation that Cole would be fired continued.
“The biggest thing is that I feel bad for the kids and for the staff,” Cole said. “I feel bad for our families being dragged through this again.”
Cole admitted he wanted to divulge more of what went on behind the scenes, but in the end, felt it best to not get specific.
“I want to take the high road and not make any comment at this time other than I really need to think things through,” he said. “There’s lots I want to say but I don’t want to throw myself under the bus in any way.
“My heart is telling me I need to say certain things, but my brain is telling me to take the high road.”
Cole, who previously coached the Thorold Blackhawks, was appointed general manager in October of 2003. He also coached the team on a couple of occasions when Daryl Belfry resigned and went behind the bench again at the start of this season when Lariviere indicated he would not return.
With Lariviere behind the bench and Cole as GM, the Falcons won their first Golden Horseshoe title last season in seven years before being knocked out of the Sutherland Cup round-robin playoffs in double overtime in Strathroy.
“You don’t blow your own horn, but I think it (record) speaks for itself,” Cole said. “There’s always been people questioning this or that, but at the end of the day it’s been a steady incline of improvement.
“After winning a championship last year, the team is in the most competitive league that it’s been for years, and we’re right there again.”
Cole, whose contract as hockey mentor with the St. Catharines Minor Hockey Association isn’t being renewed, isn’t sure what his next move will be.
“I just have to re-group,” he said.
Lariviere realizes he’s in a difficult position coming in so late in the season.
“I wish I had more time, but that’s the cards we were dealt,” Lariviere said. “Good coaches are made by good players. We’re just going to guide them. We’ve got 10 days before the playoffs and we’ll see if we can get things going in the right direction.”
bpotrecz@[NO EMAIL POSTING ALLOWED] (bpotrecz@[NO EMAIL POSTING ALLOWED])
Article ID# 903110
Former coach Garry Lariviere will take over as head coach and general manager for the rest of the year
Posted By Bill Potrecz
Posted 2 hours ago
Months of speculation finally came to fruition Thursday when then St. Catharines Falcons terminated coach and general manager David Cole.
Associate coach Mark Barrick, goaltender coach Paul Gallardi and the rest of the staff were also let go.
Former coach Garry Lariviere will take over as head coach and general manager for the rest of the year and be behind the bench tonight when the Falcons play host to the Niagara Falls Canucks in the first of an important home-and-home series. Lariviere’s son Trevor Lariviere will act as an assistant.
Falcons president Jim Goldwin presented Cole with a letter relieving him of his duties before practice Thursday morning. Players were told upon arrival at Jack Gatecliff Arena that practice was cancelled and that a meeting would be held with the new coaching staff later in the day.
Cole appeared in a state of shock a few hours later when discussing the situation.
“I feel extremely beat up and exhausted,” he said from the coaching office. “It’s been a constant battle.”
Goldwin explained the decision, although he refused to discuss specifics.
“We had a meeting and discussed a lot of issues and there were things that weren’t happening as far as the board was concerned and we decided now would be the time to make the change.
“There’s more than just the hockey side involved.
“It’s been very difficult. You get to know people and . . . It’s very tough, but at the end of the day we have to do what the club feels is right.”
The move comes with just four regular season games remaining and the Falcons tied for second place with Niagara Falls, just three points behind the league-leading Thorold Blackhawks.
Goldwin admitted the timing isn’t ideal.
“Yes and no,” he said when asked if he worried about making such a drastic move so late in the season. “It’s never a good time, but going forward we need to get back on track.”
The move puts an end to a strained relationship between Cole and Goldwin. In late October, there was an attempt to have Cole removed, but the of the board of directors had a change of heart after a meeting with Cole and his staff and decided to stand pat. At that point, Goldwin took a leave of absence as president, but returned a few weeks later.
A meeting was then held to clear the air, but Cole indicated he and Goldwin have not spoken since.
“Today (Thursday) was the first day (since the meeting) that I’ve spoken to Jim Goldwin,” Cole said. “I was told that communication was the problem and that steps would be taken to rectify the communication.
“I was optimistic we’d be able to move forward.”
Instead, the speculation that Cole would be fired continued.
“The biggest thing is that I feel bad for the kids and for the staff,” Cole said. “I feel bad for our families being dragged through this again.”
Cole admitted he wanted to divulge more of what went on behind the scenes, but in the end, felt it best to not get specific.
“I want to take the high road and not make any comment at this time other than I really need to think things through,” he said. “There’s lots I want to say but I don’t want to throw myself under the bus in any way.
“My heart is telling me I need to say certain things, but my brain is telling me to take the high road.”
Cole, who previously coached the Thorold Blackhawks, was appointed general manager in October of 2003. He also coached the team on a couple of occasions when Daryl Belfry resigned and went behind the bench again at the start of this season when Lariviere indicated he would not return.
With Lariviere behind the bench and Cole as GM, the Falcons won their first Golden Horseshoe title last season in seven years before being knocked out of the Sutherland Cup round-robin playoffs in double overtime in Strathroy.
“You don’t blow your own horn, but I think it (record) speaks for itself,” Cole said. “There’s always been people questioning this or that, but at the end of the day it’s been a steady incline of improvement.
“After winning a championship last year, the team is in the most competitive league that it’s been for years, and we’re right there again.”
Cole, whose contract as hockey mentor with the St. Catharines Minor Hockey Association isn’t being renewed, isn’t sure what his next move will be.
“I just have to re-group,” he said.
Lariviere realizes he’s in a difficult position coming in so late in the season.
“I wish I had more time, but that’s the cards we were dealt,” Lariviere said. “Good coaches are made by good players. We’re just going to guide them. We’ve got 10 days before the playoffs and we’ll see if we can get things going in the right direction.”
bpotrecz@[NO EMAIL POSTING ALLOWED] (bpotrecz@[NO EMAIL POSTING ALLOWED])
Article ID# 903110