Huntsville Otters’ fans will see new faces behind the bench next season. The Junior-C team is losing its head coach Rocky Clarke, due to time commitments according to President Monty Clouthier.
Taking over for the upcoming season are Brent Tomlinson and Marc Gagnon. The pair are coming from a Junior-A team, the Powassan Voodoos, where they worked as assistant coaches for the last two years.
Clouthier says the Otters are lucky to have the duo, as they are both well experienced, coaching one of Canada’s top ranked Junior-A teams. The pair are both living in Bracebridge and are from North Bay. Clouthier says the connection to the Battalion and the Voodoos will strengthen the Otters’ agreement in principle with the two teams. He says the goal is to improve every year, and develop players into the next level.
The Voodoos finished first in the previous NOJHL regular season with nine losses and 46 wins, including a 26 game winning streak. They were undefeated in the playoffs, and won the NOJHL championship. Tomlinson says the Otters won’t have that kind of instant success, but if they get on a three-year plan, which is how the Voodoos started off with their development, the team will also be able to translate that kind of success.
Gagnon says they are very excited to be in Huntsville, and to work with the team. He says he’s looking forward to putting in a structure and a game plan, and to beef up in the standings.
Gagnon and Tomlinson are having their first training camp on July 15th. New and returning players are welcome to go out, and it’s happening in Burk’s Falls.