Tim Ruhnke – R&T
It was time for a change, according to the GM and co-owner of the Brockville Braves.
Dustin Traylen confirmed on Friday that head coach Randy Jones had been let go on Wednesday.
“It was a very difficult decision, but a decision that had to be made” the GM said in an interview.
Traylen, a former Brockville head coach who was behind the bench for much of the Jr. B Tikis’ 2021-2022 season, will serve as head coach of the Jr. A Braves on an interim basis. His first game will be on Friday night when Brockville hosts Kemptville. Puck drops at 7:30.
The team’s inconsistency so far this season and its recent play was a significant factor in the decision to make the change, according to Traylen. Brockville has dropped three in a row and scored just twice in those losses.
In noting the Braves’ inconsistency this season, Traylen indicated that the players can give everything they can to the team every day but need to show it on a more consistent basis.
“You can’t always trade your way out of everything,” Traylen said. “It came down to something had to give.”
Braves assistant coaches Walter Dubas, Devin Payne and Matt Ward remain in place, the GM indicated.
Traylen has known Jones since their time together on the Clarkson University men’s hockey team 20 years ago.
“He’s done a very good job here the last three years… I just felt a change had to be made,” said the GM, who called “Jonesy” a friend.
“I have absolutely no hard feelings,” he added.
Jones, a retired NHL defenceman, was hired by the Braves early in the summer of 2019. Brockville finished third overall in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) in 2019-2020; the playoffs were cancelled because of COVID-19. The following season consisted of a limited number of developmental scrimmages, also due to the pandemic.
Last season, the Braves placed third overall and made it to the semi-finals.
“It was a terrific time I spent in Brockville,” Jones said in an interview Friday afternoon. “I truly appreciate the friendships and relationships that I was able to build over those years.”
Although it had only been about 48 hours since he was let go, Jones indicated that he has plans moving forward and is excited about it but declined to go into specifics.
At 8-10, the Braves are currently in ninth place overall about one-third of the way through the 55-game regular season.
“We’re not out of it by any means,” Traylen said. “I do like the kids in the room.”
“But we’ve got to push now. I had my doubts we could turn it around.”
“Now it’s up to the boys. There’s really no excuses. It’s on them to perform.”
Traylen believes that he will bring an intensity to the bench “that was lacking,” adding he is going to “bring a bit more fire” that was missing.
Hockey fans planning to attend Friday night’s game are reminded to bring to the Memorial Centre gently used or new snowsuits as well as hats and mittens for the annual Kinsmen Snowsuit Drive. Healthy essential hygiene and other items in support of The Pier Church’s Christmas program will also be collected at the rink Friday night. A list of essential items can be viewed on the Brockville Braves page on Facebook.
Brockville has a road game in Carleton Place on Sunday afternoon. The Canadians had a record of 10-5-0-1 as of Friday and were fifth in the Jr. A league.
Elsewhere in the CCHL this weekend, Kemptville is on the road again on Saturday night. The 73’s will visit the Jr. Senators; Ottawa was leading the league entering play on Friday.
Smiths Falls, which was second overall before its home game Friday night, will visit the 11th-place Raiders in Nepean on Sunday afternoon.
In CCHL action Thursday night, Brockville native Dax Easter made 33 saves in Cornwall’s 4-2 win at home against the Rockland Nationals. Former Brave Patrick Lanthier scored one of Rockland’s goals; he now has seven goals and seven assists on the season.
Original Story at Recorder.ca
