Former Ottawa Senators Head Coach fills in gap with WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings –NHL News Update
After being fired from Ottawa as the Senators head coach following they failed to qualify for the postseason, which was twice in three seasons, Cory Clouston, is back behind the bench, but it is not in the National Hockey League (NHL), this time it is with
Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Clouston could be viewed as a coach who was fired because of taking the blame for which a number of other people were responsible for. According to a number of fans on a local city news website, fans still appreciate the 41-year-old for the time he spent
with their team.
Obviously after being let go, Clouston was on the lookout for any other similar position which could allow him to continue with his coaching career. For him, he was not expecting anything before the winter time, but with some good luck and great timing,
a deal was worked out between him and Kelly McCrimmon, the WHL teams owner, governor and general manager.
"I was prepared to wait and see if something changed during the winter, during the season or wait to see next spring when things start to unfold again, but... when Kelly and I spoke last week, the decision was fairly simple", said Clouston.
The best part about moving to Brandon would allow him to fulfill his goal of settling down with his wife and two children in a smaller city which would be close to his parents which are situated in Yorkton, Saskatoon.
The WHL might seem like a new place for those who are not well acquainted with Cory Clouston, but he has seen a good number of years in the minor league. Before landing in Ottawa as the Senators head coach, Clouston held a coaching position with Kootenay
Ice for five years following a year and a half with Ottawa’s farm team in the American Hockey League (AHL), Binghamton Senators.
GM McCrimmon is well aware of his vast experience.
“Cory is a tremendously proven, experienced head coach”, said McCrimmon. “He’s had great success in the WHL, in Kootenay as well as four years of professional experience since then”.
Clouston is expected to immediately take over as head coach, which will finally allow for the young coach to focus on more important things in life.
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