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EOK1
04-20-2010, 12:55 PM
http://www.oilkings.ca/oil-kings-announce-coaching-change-p142213



Oil Kings Announce Coaching Change
April 20, 2010
Oil Kings Archive - Steve Pleau directs traffic behind the Oil Kings bench January 18, 2008 vs Calgary. Photo by Andy Devlin

Edmonton, AB - Edmonton Oil Kings General Manager Bob Green today announced a change in leadership of Edmonton’s WHL franchise. Head Coach Steve Pleau and Assistant Coach Rocky Thompson will not return to their positions behind the Oil Kings bench for next season and will be leaving the organization.

“These are always the most difficult decisions, particularly when they involve people you respect and work very closely with,” said Bob Green. “Steve and Rocky worked very hard over the past three years and they first and foremost should be thanked for their hard work and the time they dedicated to the Kings. However I feel we need to make a change prior to heading into next season.”

Pleau has been with the team since its reinsertion to the WHL in 2007-2008. Pleau guided the team to an overall record of 67-116-12-21 including a berth in the playoffs in just their second season in the league.

Thompson has also been with the team since 2007-2008. The former WHL player was in his first coaching assignment following his transition from playing professional hockey in the National Hockey League and American Hockey League.

Green, who is attending the 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Belarus, will begin the process of hiring a new coaching staff upon his return to Edmonton.

Edmonton will play host to the 2010 WHL Awards on April 28, and WHL Bantam Draft on April 29. Both events will be held at the Fantasyland Hotel at West Edmonton Mall.


I'm pretty pleased about this. We weren't making any progress. Sad to see Rocky go, but Pleau didn't implement structured systems.

Section Ten
04-23-2010, 05:21 PM
Admittedly I have only seen the Oil Kings play about half a dozen times since they entered the league, but they seemed harder to play against last year and the year before than this year's incarnation. You would like to see some improvement from year to year, and the coaching staff will sometimes pay the price.

With the stockpile of young talent this team has and will accumulate after trading most of their top end older talent this year, I can't believe that things aren't looking up in Edmonton.

At least the Oil Kings rebuilding shouldn't take as long as their NHL counterpart!

As a Wheat Kings fan, I certainly have enjoyed watching Raedeke play an important role this year, but I think the chemistry between Wilson and St. Croix will turn out to haunt Brandon for the next few seasons--both are 1993's and will be part of the league for a long time.