What do you THINK will happen next?

[sabre11714]

I doubt they move but if they do, the Steelheads would leave Mississauga the next day to come to Niagara. Maybe even Hamilton.

[three dog night]

Will the new owner of the Icedogs still open the teams in Brantford and if yes will they become Icedogs feeder teams.

[NiceDawg]

Originally Posted by the dog

Is it possible Dan Fitzgerald head coach and Darren DeDobbelaer general manager?

I am still left wondering about the sudden departure of Wes Wolfe from Cobourg. He is from the area, coached many teams locally and was Assistant Coach in Erie during a Memorial Cup win.

[5 for fighting]

Originally Posted by Dogs Enthusiast 104

Fitzgerald:
I do not pay much attention to the Falcons. Did the fans like him when he was here?

I can’t see Dan Fitzgerald being named head coach of an OHL team. He has had some successful seasons and some not so successful seasons. Looking at his season by season record, I would say he is an average Jr. B and Jr. A coach. Below is a rundown of his career as a head coach:

2014-15 – Dundas Blues Jr. C
28-10-4-0 .714 (2nd place overall)
won coach of the year

2015-16 – Cambridge Jr B (Left Dundas 8 games into season to coach Cambridge) https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-st...-winter-hawks/)
10-35 .250 (last place in division)

2016-17 Cambridge Jr. B
29-19 .600 (5th place in division)
parted ways with Cambridge following end of season

2017-18 St. Catharines Falcons
Started off as head coach but moved to assistant coaching duties halfway through season when GM took over head coaching duties. Parted ways with Falcons at end of season. (https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/girh...ind-the-bench/)
38-8-3-1 .800 (2nd place in conference)

2018-19 Brantford Jr. A
19-30-0-5 .398 (last place in division)

2019-2020 Brantford Jr. A
29-24-0-1 .546 (4th place in division)

2021-22 Brantford Jr. A
22-29-0-3 .435 (last place in division)

[5 for fighting]

Originally Posted by the dog

Is it possible Dan Fitzgerald head coach and Darren DeDobbelaer general manager?

If DeDobbelaer is serious about running an OHL team, he will not name himself as GM or Fitzgerald as coach.

DeDobbelar has not had any success as a Jr. B or Jr. A GM and Fitzgerald needs more experience before moving up to the OHL. There are a lot of more experienced coaches than Fitzgerald.

As well DeDobbelaer is also the GM of his Jr. A and Jr. B team and an OHL GM is a full time job so there is no way he will have time to be the GM of the IceDogs and the GM of his Jr. A and/or Jr. B team.

If he wants to win, he will bring in an experienced coach and GM. But if he does name himself as GM, then we know this is just a hobby for him which will not be good.

[dogs777]

Originally Posted by 5 for fighting

I can’t see Dan Fitzgerald being named head coach of an OHL team. He has had some successful seasons and some not so successful seasons. Looking at his season by season record, I would say he is an average Jr. B and Jr. A coach. Below is a rundown of his career as a head coach:

2014-15 – Dundas Blues Jr. C
28-10-4-0 .714 (2nd place overall)
won coach of the year

2015-16 – Cambridge Jr B (Left Dundas 8 games into season to coach Cambridge) https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-st...-winter-hawks/)
10-35 .250 (last place in division)

2016-17 Cambridge Jr. B
29-19 .600 (5th place in division)
parted ways with Cambridge following end of season

2017-18 St. Catharines Falcons
Started off as head coach but moved to assistant coaching duties halfway through season when GM took over head coaching duties. Parted ways with Falcons at end of season. (https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/girh...ind-the-bench/)
38-8-3-1 .800 (2nd place in conference)

2018-19 Brantford Jr. A
19-30-0-5 .398 (last place in division)

2019-2020 Brantford Jr. A
29-24-0-1 .546 (4th place in division)

2021-22 Brantford Jr. A
22-29-0-3 .435 (last place in division)

He seems like the perfect coach for the new owner (based on his track record of running teams)

[ckg927]

Originally Posted by three dog night

Will the new owner of the Icedogs still open the teams in Brantford and if yes will they become Icedogs feeder teams.

ABSOLUTELY NOT. The owner to be shot down that idea PDQ.

[ckg927]

And, as Ken Campbell notes in his latest Hockey Unfiltered newsletter, speculation is that one of the most well-known hockey people EVER will be part of the ownership group. You may have heard of him...

http://kencampbell.substack.com/p/mo...great-one-back

[5 for fighting]

Originally Posted by ckg927

And, as Ken Campbell notes in his latest Hockey Unfiltered newsletter, speculation is that one of the most well-known hockey people EVER will be part of the ownership group. You may have heard of him...

http://kencampbell.substack.com/p/mo...great-one-back

If Gretzky is a small minority owner, I think it gives more credibility to the belief that DeDobbelaer wants to eventually move the team to Brantford. A 5% stake in the team means he is a part owner in name only. But if you need to convince the city of Brantford to spend millions to renovate their arena for an OHL team, what better way than having the great one be a part owner in the OHL team.

I really believe that DeDobbelaer’s plan is to convince another team to move here and then ask St. Catharines to allow him to move the team to Brantford. Remember he moved the Milton Jr A team to Brantford despite the OHA saying he couldn’t. My feeling is he won’t let a few roadblocks get in his way.

[NiceDawg]

Would have been cheaper to buy Mississauga if moving was the goal. The fans don't go with the team, and since the Steelheads don't have any...