==== Weeks Crushers MJAHL Hockey ====

WEEKS JUNIOR A CRUSHERS SEEK HEAD COACH & GENERAL MANAGER

The Weeks Junior A Crushers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League are seeking applications for a General Manager and Head Coach. Based in Pictou County, Nova Scotia the Crushers have completed their fifth season in the MJAHL and were the 2008 Fred Page Cup Champions, placing third at the Royal Bank Cup. The team is community owned and operated by an independent board of directors and has a strong focus on player development and community involvement.
Reporting directly to the President, the individual will possess very good leadership, communication, and management skills with a strong hockey background. The candidate will have a minimum NCCP Advanced Level 1 coaching certificate and have a strong knowledge of and contacts within MJAHL, CHL, CJHL, CIS and NCAA.
This General Manager Head Coach will be responsible for the following:

Create, develop and sustain a team culture of winning and success concurrently with the achievement of reasonable player athletic and academic goals/objectives
Player registrations and maintenance of Hockey Nova Scotia and Hockey Canada filing and reporting requirements
Direct and Indirect Scouting
Draft preparation and selection
Player recruitment and transactions within and outside MJAHL
Coordination and maintenance of all game and practice schedules
Recruiting and maintaining of all team staff (assistant coaches, trainer, therapist, equipment manager, etc.)
Assistance in Preparation of annual budget and operate within the approved budget
Develop and strengthen ties to community of Pictou County through community volunteerism which would include player participation
Equipment maintenance and purchasing
Provide support to marketing committee to promote team, games and drive revenues Billet coordination
Coordination of all player travel requirements
Develop and maintain relationships with Pictou County Minor Hockey
Planning, organization and running of the Annual Weeks Crushers Hockey Camp
Ongoing professional development and involvement in Hockey Canada and Hockey Nova Scotia Elite development programs.

We will be accepting applications until May 10, 2009. Resumes can be sent via email to wtaylor@grantthornton.ca or fax 902-752-4009 attention Wade Taylor. Candidates will be short listed for interview and only those selected will be contacted.

Weeks Crushers Head Coach Doesn't Renew Contract

Troy Ryan’s role as General Manager and Head Coach of the Weeks Junior A Crushers will not be extended into the 2009/10 hockey season. Both sides met on the matter a number of times to continue, but in the end it was determined to be in the best interest of both sides to part ways. Ryan felt it was time to pursue new opportunities and said “It’s a really tough decision, and I don’t think you realize how difficult it is until you actually do it, this organization is a big part of me, and I feel like I was an important part of the organization.”

“Troy Ryan was an integral part of our organization in the development of our franchise here in Pictou County and his efforts extended well into the community”, says President Wade Taylor. “We not only won a Fred Page Cup with Troy behind the bench, but set a high standard of expectations of our players on and off the ice.” The Crushers players, coaching staff and organization are well known for their strong community focus and volunteering which has provided the team with a strong community base and following, which culminated with the Pictou County Minor Hockey Association rebranding their organization as Crushers in 2008/09.

The Crushers are pleased Troy continued his role with integrity and made a number of moves at the deadline which had a long term view for the team, by acquiring a couple of younger skilled players that will be here for a few years. The team is well positioned with a strong core of players returning next year and the team will be active over the next couple of months in filling out the roster in goal of being very competitive in the 2009/10 season.

Both sides are parting on amicable terms and Ryan has agreed to assist in the transition to a new GM and head coach. The Crushers will advertising for the position within the week and plan to have someone in place no later than the end of May in preparation for the Midget draft in June.