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Owen Sound Attack losing coach Greg Ireland, adding to OHL Western Conference's upheaval

Owen Sound Attack losing coach Greg Ireland, adding to OHL Western Conference's upheaval

The coaching/general manager has made a full revolution in the Ontario Hockey League's Western Conference. Over the weekend, multiple sources reporterd that Greg Ireland, who has graced the Owen Sound Attack behind the bench since 2011-12, will be leaving to coach in the professional ranks with Germany's Alder Mannheim.

The Attack confirmed Ireland's resignation on Sunday.

The move, for those scoring at home, makes 12 coach or GM changes in the West in as many months, datiing to Kyle Dubas' departure from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs in July 2014. For the Attack, the timing isn't the best since a lot of candidates may have already found a post for this season.

From Bill Walker:

Ireland was approached by a pro team at the National Hockey League entry draft last month.

The team made contact again last week and he was offered a job – what it is and in what league is unknown.

“He has left to pursue other interests ... where, I don't know,” [Attack general manager Dale] DeGray said.

“I expect that will all become clear in the next few days.”

DeGray was early in the process of looking to replace assistant coaches Drew Bannister and Daniel Tkaczuk who both left for other jobs, Bannister as the head coach in Sault Ste. Marie and Tkaczuk as an assistant in Kitchener.

That hunt is on hold now until a head coach is found. (Owen Sound Sun Times)

As noted, there probably are viable candidates who have found other gigs. Two head coaches from last season, Trevor Letowski and Troy Smigth, have respectively become seconds-in-command with the Windsor Spitfires and Hamilton Bulldogs. The Attack, though, have time to be choosy as they seek an all-new staff willing to take on the challenge of working in the OHL's smallest centre.

DeGray told the Sun-Times he will not rush the process.

Owen Sound is losing captain Zach Nastasiuk and No. 1 defenceman Chris Bigras to the pros, but it had only two other 19-year-olds last season. There is a good chance they will stay competitive.

Meantime, yes, that makes a coach and/or GM change for every franchise in the Western Conference. It's doubtful that has happened too often.

Month

Team

Role

Arriving

Predecessor

July 2014

Sault Ste. Marie

GM

Kyle Raftis

Kyle Dubas

October 2014

London

GM

Basil McRae

Mark Hunter

January 2015

Guelph

Coach

Bill Stewart

Scott Walker

March 2015

Flint

GM

Terry Christensen

Mark Craig

 

 

Coach

John Gruden

Don Elland

April 2015

Sarnia

Coach

Derian Hatcher

Trevor Letowski

June 2015

Kitchener

Coach

Mike Van Ryn

Troy Smith

July 2015

Windsor

Coach

Rocky Thompson

Bob Boughner

 

Saginaw

GM

Dave Drinkill

Jim Paliafito

 

Sault Ste. Marie

Coach

Drew Bannister

Sheldon Keefe

 

Owen Sound

Coach

?

Greg Ireland

 

Erie

GM

?

Sherry Bassin

In contrast, the Eastern Conference has had two coaching changes (Bob Jones in Oshawa, David Matsos in Sudbury) and one GM change (Jeff Brown adding the portfolio in Ottawa). It's like an Eastern team won the league title for the first time in nearly a decade, or something.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @naitSAYger.