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Maulers change coaches mid-season

The Yorkton RawTec Maulers have played 20 games in the Saskatchewan AAA Midget Hockey League and recorded only two wins. So perhaps not surprisingly last week the Board of Directors of the Maulers announced it was time for some changes.
Maulers

The Yorkton RawTec Maulers have played 20 games in the Saskatchewan AAA Midget Hockey League and recorded only two wins.

So perhaps not surprisingly last week the Board of Directors of the Maulers announced it was time for some changes.

“At this time, we are relieving Kevin Rawlick of the General Manager and Head Coaching duties, and Jason Gordon of the Associate Coaching duties,” stated a release issued last Thursday.

“This is not an easy decision and is not one that we take lightly. Coach Rawlick and Coach Gordon have been extremely dedicated and passionate, giving so much of themselves for this organization.  We would like to thank them for all they

have done for the Maulers family and wish them the very best going forward.

“Nonetheless, we believe the organization must move in a different direction. As we move ahead, we are pleased to announce that Assistant Coach Delane Lamb has accepted the role of Interim Head Coach.  Coach Lamb will establish his assistant coaching staff in the coming days.”

Club president Greg Donnelly said the decision to make the change did not come easily, or overnight.

“It definitely wasn’t a quick decision,” he told Yorkton This Week Friday. “It took a long time. We wanted to make sure we made the right decision for the team.”

Donnelly said both Rawlick and Gordon are good hockey people, noting in particular “I don’t know a guy in hockey with more passion for the game than Kevin,” but the team just was not responding this season.

And, Donnelly said the players are not as bad as a two-win season might suggest.

“I think we have a great group of guys … a lot of hardworking guys out there,” he said, adding he went to a practice under Lamb’s guidance after the change. “… I thought the kids looked great.”

The coaching change does have an added dynamic in the sense Rawlick’s company is the team’s name sponsor.

“Those are two separate things altogether,” assured Donnelly. “Kevin (Rawlick) still loves the organization and supports the organization I believe.”

In the meantime, the Board is assembling a working group that will include members of the Board and people from outside the organization to move forward on a search for a general manager and a permanent head coach.

Donnelly said they do not have an established timeline to see new people in place, adding they have moved to change the structure at the head of the team. They will be hiring a separate general manager and coach, and have also created a board appointed position for a director of player personnel.

“Whatever time it takes, we want to make sure we have the right people in the positions,” he said.