After a difficult loss to Wisborg in the Corfield Conference finals, Fort Erie will have a different look behind the bench next season.
Following the loss, Fort Erie GM Young and Joel Quenneville met to discuss the coach's future and it was decided that the team would move forward without the veteran coach.
"After consulting with Joel, he seemed to be worn out by the grind of the CCHL season and the pressure that follows a job like this. He wants to spend more time at home given his age, so we just felt it was time to part ways. We can't thank Joel enough for the contribution he's made to the organization and the success we've had together," said GM Young.
It didn't take long for a successor to be announced, as Young quickly noted that Quenneville would be succeeded by Kris Knoblauch behind the bench.
"Kris just wins everywhere he goes. He did great things in Erie in the OHL with four 50 win seasons in a row - that's almost impossible in junior hockey. He's been a good head coach in the AHL and we feel he's the voice we need behind our bench for the upcoming season," said Young.
Dylan Strome, who played for Knoblauch in Erie said that he was excited by the move and knows that the new coach will make the most of the opportunity.
"Coach is a great communicator and he'll get the best out of this team. We have a skilled group here and I think he'll get us the next level - one that he got us to in Erie. He will achieve buy-in and I'm excited to play for him again," said the center.
The team is said to be announcing trades in the upcoming days as well so it should be an exciting time in the early part of the off-season in Fort Erie.
Stay tuned - it'll be a busy week for the regular season record setters!
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