Grizzlies owner Barrie officially takes coaching reins

Press Release

There had been rumours and rumblings to the effect but the Victoria Grizzlies made it official last weekend when owner Len Barrie announced himself as head coach during a media conference.

Vic Gervais, last year's bench boss, remains and will work with Barrie as an assistant. The team also introduced Rob Doyle as the team's associate coach.

"We will have a fast and skilled team this year," Barrie told the Victoria Times Colonist. "Our team will also be big and exciting to watch. We have some unfinished business to take care of after losing a seven-game series to Powell River. We got worn down in that series.

"We have high expectations for this team and we will take the best kids available from our camp."

Barrie got back into the coaching role during last season's playoffs when he chipped in behind the bench so he had a close-up view when the team couldn't finish the Kings after having them down three games to one. That should provide the motivation for not only Barrie but the players too.

Still Barrie said he harbours no illusions of a long coaching career.

"Vic and I worked together well last year but me being the head coach is not a long-term thing," he said in the Times Colonist. "Down the road, Rob could be taking over those duties. We just want to make sure he is ready and we will take our time to make the right decision."

Lauded for his motivational prowess, Barrie's background in the game comes mostly from his playing days and later as an owner. He played 184 NHL games, mostly with Pittsburgh and Florida. He was later an owner in Tampa Bay and is still majority owner of the Grizzlies.

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