AlphaDog
07-20-2007, 05:28 PM
[from Brockville Recorder & Times, Jul.20, 2007]
By RON SMITH
Sports Editor
Mike McCourt has a new job.
The former owner, general manager and head coach of the Brockville Braves has signed a three-year deal to be the assistant coach with the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League.
After serving as an assistant coach with Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in NCAA Division 1 last year, McCourt jumped at the opportunity to join the Ice Dogs, formerly based in Mississauga but now located in St. Catharines.
"It was just one of those things, an opportunity came up and they made a very attractive offer to us," said McCourt from his Pittsburgh home on Wednesday night.
Former Brockville native Scott Halpenny, who has been with the Ice Dogs for eight years and is now the director of player personnel, suggested to Niagara general manager Dave Brown that McCourt would be a good candidate for the job.
Brown and McCourt knew each other from dealings between their OHL and Central Junior 'A' Hockey League teams and that started the ball rolling.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge. There's a lot of attention with the team. There's a lot of buzz in the city. They had some top picks taken in the NHL draft and some others projected for next year," said McCourt. "To work with that calibre of kids is exciting. For a coach, it's an opportunity you relish and can only dream of."
It's another addition to the hockey resumé for McCourt.
After graduating from the Braves as a player, McCourt spent four years with St. Lawrence University in Canton on a hockey scholarship. He played and coached in minor pro leagues in Europe and the United States before taking a coaching job with Clarkson University.
Buying the Braves in 2002, McCourt rebuilt the franchise until selling the team to current owner Todd Gill and taking the coaching job in the NCAA last year.
Right now, he and wife Julie are concentrating on buying a house in St. Catharines and getting everything finalized in time for son Riley to go to school in the fall.
By RON SMITH
Sports Editor
Mike McCourt has a new job.
The former owner, general manager and head coach of the Brockville Braves has signed a three-year deal to be the assistant coach with the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League.
After serving as an assistant coach with Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in NCAA Division 1 last year, McCourt jumped at the opportunity to join the Ice Dogs, formerly based in Mississauga but now located in St. Catharines.
"It was just one of those things, an opportunity came up and they made a very attractive offer to us," said McCourt from his Pittsburgh home on Wednesday night.
Former Brockville native Scott Halpenny, who has been with the Ice Dogs for eight years and is now the director of player personnel, suggested to Niagara general manager Dave Brown that McCourt would be a good candidate for the job.
Brown and McCourt knew each other from dealings between their OHL and Central Junior 'A' Hockey League teams and that started the ball rolling.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge. There's a lot of attention with the team. There's a lot of buzz in the city. They had some top picks taken in the NHL draft and some others projected for next year," said McCourt. "To work with that calibre of kids is exciting. For a coach, it's an opportunity you relish and can only dream of."
It's another addition to the hockey resumé for McCourt.
After graduating from the Braves as a player, McCourt spent four years with St. Lawrence University in Canton on a hockey scholarship. He played and coached in minor pro leagues in Europe and the United States before taking a coaching job with Clarkson University.
Buying the Braves in 2002, McCourt rebuilt the franchise until selling the team to current owner Todd Gill and taking the coaching job in the NCAA last year.
Right now, he and wife Julie are concentrating on buying a house in St. Catharines and getting everything finalized in time for son Riley to go to school in the fall.