Midget espoir Tigers make major early season coaching change

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

Claiming his players lacked on-ice elementary hockey basics Lac St. Louis Tigers midget espoir general manager Chris Sides recently fired three members of his coaching staff.

Head coach Stewart McCarthey along with assistant coaches Jon Goyens and Marc Garceau were released on Oct. 29. Sides, a former Lakeshore Hockey Association president and a former general manager of the midget AAA Lac St. Louis Lions, said assistant coach Brian Clark was asked to stay but chose to voluntary leave. No replacement for McCarthey has been named yet. The Lakeshore hockey technical staff was behind the bench for Saturday’s 8-5 Tigers road defeat against the Northern Selects in St. Janvier. Heading into the contest, the Tigers, made up of some of the finest 15-year-old players from West Island, Dollard, Deux Rives and Lakeshore hockey associations, boasted a record of 3-6-2.

“The reason for the change had nothing to do with wins or losses. It had more to do with the fact we felt the proper progression for our kids was not being followed,” said Sides. “Our defensive zone coverage was none existent, and there were just too many breakdowns. There was also a fitness issue among the players.”

McCarthey, a classic volunteer who has devoted over 25 years to teaching hockey at almost every level and is known among local circles as a player’s coach, was extremely upset upon hearing the news, which came as a complete surprise, and was sent to him by e-mail. Many of his players, Sides admitted, were also very upset. Several shed tears upon hearing the news, and had to be explained exactly why the coaching change was made.

The timing could not have been worse for McCarthey, who lost his father-in-law only two days before being released.

“Mr. Sides can say what he wants, but the bottom line behind is the fact we were not able to get along,” said McCarthey. “He wanted to control my job, constantly telling me how to do it, making decisions that were supposed to be mine, and I refused to adhere to his constant interference. Were there technical problems on the ice among my players? Perhaps. But it was an ever evolving situation I tried to correct every week.”

Goyens, a former Lions assistant coach, questioned how Sides could claim the players lacked technical basics on the ice, when he (Sides) hadn’t attended the latter half of training camp and rarely showed up for games or practices.

“I’m disappointed it came to this,” said Goyens. “I have never backed out of a job I started. I really feel sorry for the players, though. They’re the ones who are taking this really hard.”