Sarnia Legionnaires
2009 - 2010

brought to you by:

Coach Perry is Returning

 

By Dan McCaffery
April 27, 2010

Jeff  Perry has decided to stay with the Sarnia Legionnaires.

The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League team announced today that Perry, a former Toronto Maple Leaf draft pick, has agreed to return as head coach and director of hockey operations for a second season.

"There's not a better group of people to work for,” the Sarnia native said when asked why he decided to return. “The owners are on the same page as myself and the coaching staff.”

Perry said last season was a learning curve for him because he didn't know the league or the players well. He also faced a tough challenge because an unexpectedly large number of players from the 2009 Legionnaire championship squad moved on to other endeavors. In fact, six went to the Ontario Hockey League, three left town to attend universities, four were lost to overage and two decided to play Jr. 'C' hockey.

Perry said Jr. 'B' clubs are always at the mercy of OHL teams to a certain degree. But barring a wholesale loss of players again, he expects the team to be a contender in the Western Ontario Hockey Conference. “If we get back the players we expect to, we should be a pretty strong hockey club.”

Team president Tom Knight said, “In resigning Jeff there is no doubt that we have the most technically sound and qualified coach in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.” He added the club's ownership group was impressed with the job their coach did last year under extremely adverse conditions. “Jeff's first season was very difficult because only four players from the previous year's championship team were on our roster when our playoff series began against Chatham. We are very proud of Jeff and our players for the strong finish to our season and the excellent run in the playoffs.”

The Legionnaires finished sixth in the nine-team loop, then took the third-ranked Maroons to Game Seven before bowing out of the first round of the post season.

Knight is convinced that Perry will mold the Legionnaires into a top contender. “This upcoming season we have 18 of the 20 players on our roster eligible to return and they have all expressed their desire to take the Legionnaires back to the top of the league and to play for Jeff again.”

Although he just turned 39 earlier this month, Perry has a long history as a bench boss. In fact, he was the most successful head coach in Sarnia Sting history, having guided that OHL club to a won-lost record of 99-61 during the 2000-2003 period. Along the way he set the Sting franchise record for wins and points during a single season.

Later, as an assistant coach of the London Knights, he won a Memorial Cup ring. He has also been an assistant coach in the American Hockey League and a scout for the Minnesota Wild of the NHL.

  • A reception for Legionnaire scoring ace Jesse Drydak, held at the Sarnia Arena last week, raised $1,500 to help pay for Drydak's recent trip to Europe with Team Canada. The hockey club also threw in $500 to help offset the cost of Drydak's participation in the U-20 Three Nations Tournament.

  • A major upgrade to the Sarnia Arena is under way. The 60-year-old boards and glass were removed last week. New plastic boards and taller glass are being installed this week. Once the job is finished, there will be five-foot high glass all the way around the rink. The historic facility recently underwent other improvements as well, receiving new seating last winter and a new roof last fall.

  • The Legionnaires will hold a season ticket sale this Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion on Front Street. Prices have been frozen at last year's level ($99, which works out to less than $4 a game). The first 100 fans to purchase a season ticket will receive a prize.