Turcotte steps down

Darren Turcotte seen here at his first press conference with the Skyhawks in the summer of 2006. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The North Bay Skyhawks have announced in a press release Tuesday evening that Darren Turcotte has made a personal decision to step down as Head Coach of the NOJHL North Bay Skyhawks effective immediately and will look to serve the organization in another capacity.

“It was frustrating for me not being able to get through to the players to make them realize that we are a better team than we are showing even though we are enjoying a winning season,” Turcotte stated in a Skyhawks press release.

“I am going to take a few days to contemplate my future (with the team) but I know I leave the position in good hands.”

The decision comes less than a week after Turcotte was ejected from a game against the Abitibi Eskimos after arguing a call and only a couple days after a dismal 4-0 shutout loss to Sudbury on home ice.

It was far from a fairy tale ending for the former NHLer who joined the Skyhawks in the summer of 2006 after a short stint with the Abitibi Eskimos.

Last season Turcotte guided the Skyhawks to their worst season – finishing 6th in the 7 team league – since the NOJHL franchise moved to North Bay in the fall of 2002.

This season the Skyhawks got back to the top of the league, but still the club continued to lack consistency – something that seemed to weigh heavily on the mind of Turcotte.

Skyhawks General Manager Guy Blanchard says Turcotte made the decision in the best interest of the hockey club.

“We know Darren has a lot to offer our hockey club and he will decide whether he will remain in our organization,” Blanchard said in a press release.

Swalucynski takes over

As a result, Assistant Coach Ian Swalucynski will take over the interim position of Head Coach of the North Bay Skyhawks. Ian worked last season as Head Coach and General Manager of the Thunder Bay Bearcats of the Superior International Junior Hockey League. In the previous season, Ian was Head Coach and GM of the K & A Wolverines of the SIJHL.

Before his Junior “A” coaching days, Swalucynski worked with the Thunder Bay AAA Kings organization. It’s a successful minor hockey program that produced the likes of Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Marc Staal, Taylor Pyatt and former North Bay Centennial Alex Auld.

Swalucynski was also a regional scout for the OHL Central Scouting Bureau for six years.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Thunder Bay native ran his first practice as head coach.

“Ian brings in a positive attitude and a good solid background of coaching experience necessary for the Head Coach position at this level,” Blanchard said about his new head coach.

“It’s a benefit to our club is that Ian has been on the Skyhawks bench from the beginning of the season so he is quite familiar with our players, the league and our organization,” added Blanchard.

While Turcotte hasn’t made up his mind the option is open for him to stay with the club as an assistant coach.

The Skyhawks are holding a press conference at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon to answer any further questions about the coaching change.

Despite the coaching change the first place Skyhawks are currently ranked 11th in the Canadian Junior ‘A’ Hockey League standings as of November 17, 2007.