The search for the Estevan Bruins next head coach and general manager is looking promising.
When coach Kerry Biette, who started the year with the Bruins, resigned in January, Bruins president Jeff Pierson knew he'd have to find a replacement for the 2011-12 hockey season.
Chad Leslie, the assistant coach at the start of the year, stepped in on an interim basis, knowing the change wouldn't be permanent with a relocation to Manitoba on the horizon.
Pierson has been accumulating a number of applicants interested in the job, and he is impressed with the quality of applicants so far.
"I've been extremely impressed with the applications we've received so far," he said. He noted interested parties have experience coaching at the SJHL level and MJHL.
"I'm happy to say that we've also had some with NCAA Division 1 coaching experience. Just by that, it gives a good indication of the quality of individuals that are showing interest in the position. We've had numerous inquiries and we are still waiting for what I'd consider a couple more higher end applicants to come in."
Pierson attributes that interest to a number of things, including the club's list of protected prospects and moving into a new arena, with Spectra Place scheduled to be open for the 2011-12 season.
"At the end of the day I'm just very comfortable with the position the hockey club's in, because moving into this fantastic new arena is obviously one of the driving forces behind the quality of the applicants we are receiving."
Pierson said the coaching position is definitely more attractive to prospective coaches because of the new facility.
"We did a good job of getting the word out and advertising (the position)," said Pierson. "There's kind of a whole hockey network out there."
The organization has had to do very little in it pursuit of a replacement because names continue to come in.
"When our applications close and we feel we're missing (something), maybe it's at the point where we go out and approach a few individuals. But at this point, that has not been necessary."
The Bruins executive will make the decision once all applicants have been reviewed.
One important contributing factor is whether or not the philosophy of the applicant is compatible with that that of the club. Pierson noted it's not just a coach they are looking for.
"The word coach is the word that keeps being used, but you have to be mindful that it's coach and GM, and the GM side is huge."
It's not feasible in the SJHL to have the coach and GM filled by two people so both roles fall under one umbrella.
"The candidate has to possess both a good coaching resumé, but he also has to be a pretty good business person as well. He has a lot of day-to-day responsibilities associated with the operation of the hockey club," he said. "You could have a guy that's a great coach but lacks in the other (side), well he ain't gonna work for us."
Pierson said both considerations are weighed equally during the selection process.
Though Leslie will be living in Manitoba, Pierson expects he will continue to be a significant part of the organization.
"He'll be a great representative for us in the Manitoba area," said Pierson. "Manitoba over the last couple of years has become quite an area for us in terms of players. You've just seen the tip of the iceberg this year with (Cole) Olson. We have three of the top four scorers in the Manitoba AAA on our list currently. That's just become a bigger part of our focus. "
Pierson expects having Leslie as an out-of-province representative will be very beneficial.
Leslie has deep roots in the club, as an alumnus and coach with two titles behind his name.
"He is just so dedicated to this hockey club. Even though he won't be behind the bench, he will have a very keen interest in the success of the hockey club."
In a perfect world Pierson said he'd like to have the new coach on the ground by the time the spring camp starts on April 8, but with the quality of applicants they have to wade through, that target may be "unrealistic."
