By David F. Rooney
The Revelstoke Grizzlies have a new head coach and general manager — Randy Quackenbush.
Quackenbush’s appointment to replace Rylan Ferster who resigned on June 15, was announced Wednesday evening by Mike Roberts of the Revelstoke Grizzlies Ownership Group.
“We are excited to have Randy continue with our hockey Club,” Roberts said. “This will help us continue our goal of developing hockey players to the next level and continue the winning tradition.”
The Grizzlies won all the marbles in 2010, emerging from the season as overall champions and winners of the Cyclone Taylor Cup. This past season they won 40 of their regular season games but in the end lost to the Osoyoos Coyotes.
An NCCP Advanced Level 2 coach, Quackenbush has 25 years of coaching experience, including five years as an assistant in the BCHL with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. He has also been a guest coach with the Canadian Men’s National Team and a five-time coach at the U-17 Pacific Summer Camp. During the past season he served as an associate coach with the Grizzlies.
“I am extremely excited to take on the position of Head Coach and General Manager and to continue my relationship with the team,” Quackenbush told reporters at the news conference. “I want to thank the Ownership Group for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this model franchise. This will be a huge task after a 40-win season. I, and the rest of the staff, will embrace and work hard to bring another Championship to Revelstoke.”
Roberts and Quackenbush are also intent on boosting sagging attendance at the Junior B Club’s games. Once filled to capacity on a regular basis, The Forum rarely sees that happen now.
Local hockey fans can expect to see a wider public discussion of this significant issue in the coming months. You can view a video of Quackenbush and Roberts below:
