CANADIANS ADD ASSOCIATE COACH

The NOJHL Rayside Balfour Canadians are pleased to announce the addition of veteran NOJHL coach Dave Clancy as the team’s new Associate Coach. Clancy will be joined by Canadians’ Head Coach Vagelli Sakellaris behind the bench this season along with Assistant Coach & Goalie Coach Eric Navarro. Bobby Chaumont returns as the Skills Coach with the Canadians this season.

Clancy, 58, brings more than 20 years of coaching experience including stints with U15 NOHA teams, NOJHL teams and Laurentian University Men’s Hockey teams. The Sudbury native served as Assistant Coach of the Sudbury Jr. Wolves when the franchise won the NOJHL championship in 2006. Clancy won an NOJHL Championship as the Head Coach of the Burgess-owned Sudbury Jr. Wolves in 2008.

Clancy served as an Assistant Coach for the Laurentian University Men’s Hockey team from 2013 to 2016. Most recently, Clancy was named NOJHL Coach-of-the-Year in 2019 when he led the Espanola Express to their best regular season record in franchise history. Clancy also served as Head Coach and GM of the Rayside Balfour Jr. A Canadians from 2016 to 2018.

“It doesn’t happen very often when a team has the ability to add an accomplished and decorated coach with Dave’s resume” notes Canadians GM Jeff Forsyth. “We feel that we have put an exclamation mark on our coaching staff for 21-22 season. Vagelli and Dave have worked together in the past, and are very familiar with each others coaching styles, which will serve our players with a first-class experience.”

“I’m extremely excited to join this organization and have the opportunity to work with this group of people that are dedicated in bringing a championship to this community” states Clancy. “After seeing what the players went through last season, I’m looking forward to returning to a new normal that will allow the players to play the game that they love. I also look forward to working with our players on their development as junior hockey players.”

Canadians Head Coach Vagelli Sakellaris adds, “Dave is a very knowledgeable coach who brings a lot of experience from both the NOJHL and University hockey ranks. Dave is technically sound in the modern game and he will be an extremely valuable asset to our program this season.”

Clancy will make his 2021-22 coaching debut as Associate Coach when the Canadians host the Espanola Express on Thursday, September 16th at the Chelmsford Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m.