Gilmour to coach Kingston

by James Mirtle on Nov 17, 2008 11:51 AM CST Comment 9 comments

The Kingston Frontenacs are expected to name Doug Gilmour as head coach at a press conference today. Reports say Gilmour will replace Larry Mavety behind the bench.

The Frontenacs have five wins in 23 games and are last place in the Ontario Hockey League.

— Kingston Whig-Standard

Gilmour had been in his first year as an assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL under Greg Gilbert, and has a potential NHL head coaching gig in mind down the line. Junior hockey's not an easy place to coach, especially with a struggling team, and it'll be interesting to see how Killer fares with the goofy teenagers and overnight bus trips in the O.

UPDATE Neate Sager, good Kingston boy, has a local take, and let's just say things aren't all that well with the Frontenacs.

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Stunning

What is it with former Kingston-ites being unable to commit. First it was Muller ditching Queen’s after one season (did he even complete it?) and now Dougie.

I wonder what precipitated the move.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Nov 17, 2008 12:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Kingston fired their coach and asked Gilmour to take over.

by James Mirtle on Nov 17, 2008 12:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

No, I meant from Gilmour’s perspective. It seemed like he had a pretty straight career path laid out. A couple of years of AHL assistant coaching, a couple of years as head coach, and then move to the NHL.

It seems like a detour to me.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Nov 17, 2008 12:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, it’s definitely a step up to be a head coach somewhere as opposed to being an AHL assistant. If he can get Kingston going, that sort of speeds up his development as a coach.

by James Mirtle on Nov 17, 2008 12:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess

But Kingston, if Neate at OOLF is anything to go by (and he is), is a mess along the lines of a Tampa or Islanders.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Nov 17, 2008 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nowhere to go but up.

by James Mirtle on Nov 17, 2008 12:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It wasn’t really a firing… the former coach/GM (Larry Mavety) is now just the GM, and his quotes to the local paper made it sound like he’s quite happy to return to that role. By the way, Muller did complete his season at Queen’s before moving on. It was pretty well figured he wouldn’t last long around these parts, but he was a good coach while he was here in my mind. (Kingston’s all about the former NHL guys: Alyn McCauley’s a current assistant coach with Queen’s).

Queen's Journal Sports Editor.
Personal sports blog at www.sportingmadness.blogspot.com.
Contributing writer at Out of Left Field: www.neatesager.blogspot.com.

by Andrew Bucholtz on Nov 17, 2008 5:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Needs a challenge

Dougie’s a competitor, and competitors love a challenge. Plus, as Roughriders fans found out last winter, there’s nothing like coaching for your hometown/alma mater.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Nov 17, 2008 12:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs