Thursday, August 11, 2011

FLYERS HIRE NEW BENCH BOSS

Press Release

The Orangeville Junior A Flyers have a new coach- but it's an old face to Orangeville hockey fans!

The management of the local entry of the Ontario Junior Hockey League team didn't have to search far for a new bench boss when Steve Hodson had to resign the post last week. Hodson will remain with the club as Director of Player Personnel.

Replacing him behind the Orangeville bench will be a man who is synonymous with Orangeville Junior Hockey- Orangeville Sports Hall of Fame coach Bob Noble. Noble, who entered the Sports Hall of Fame one year ago, has a long standing history behind the benches with Orangeville junior hockey teams, will several league championships with the Junior C Crushers and one as the bench boss with the Erin Shamrocks.

The headline in the local newspaper, The Banner, described Noble as a 'legendary coach' when discussing his induction into the Hall of Fame. "For almost 20 years, the 54-year-old Orangeville resident transfused that passion for sport into the veins of some of the most talented professional hockey and lacrosse figures to ever come out of Orangeville," The Banner said about Noble.

Some of those players include Terry Sanderson, Dan Ellis, Chris Neil, Jamie Litt, Craig Minard, Darryl Bootland and Sean Snider. Following his time behind the Orangeville benches, Noble spent some time with the Erin Shamrocks before retiring. He rejoined the Shamrocks last season as an assistant coach as the bug hit him again.

Noble will be at the helm when they hit the ice on Monday, Aug. 15 for their first pre-season workout. The Flyers open the exhibition season on Sunday, Aug. 21 at the Alder Street Recreation Complex against the Mississauga Chargers, beginning at 7 p.m.

In between, the Flyers will hold their annual golf tournament at Shelburne Golf Club on Saturday, Aug. 20. There's still room for golfers and hole sponsors. Contact George Falkiner at 519-941-3655 for more information, or to register your foursome.

Noble's first job in his role as head coach was to hire another Orangeville resident, Kevin Stone, to act as one of his assistants. Darryl Baker, who was with the team as the Villanova Knights last season, is returning to his role.

Stone joins the Flyers staff after six years as the head coach of the Bozeman IMontana) Icedogs of the American West Junior Hockey League. Kevin played minor hockey in Orangeville before playing junior hockey under Orangeville Flyers head coach Bob Noble with the Orangeville Crushers. Before moving on to play NCAA hockey for the Fredonia State Blue Devils where, as a goaltender, he was a two-year captain and had an All-American nomination. Stone played professionally with the Pee Dee Pride and the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL, the Port Huron Border Cats of the UHL, the Louisville Panthers of the AHL and the San Angelo Outlaws of the WPHL. Kevin has recently returned to his roots and is once again a resident of Orangeville.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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