Your Greyhounds coach just got kicked to the curb
Bonjour from the North — three cities, one corridor, and the stories that don't make it south of Barrie. You know, I've seen a lot of things come and go in Sault Ste. Marie. Companies, politicians, even the occasional *érable* leaf that makes its way down from the Group of Seven trails. But some things feel like they're just *part* of the furniture. And for a lot of us, John Dean, the Soo Greyhounds head coach, was becoming that.
I mean, the guy was our longest-tenured coach ever. *Ever*. He's been behind that bench at the GFL Memorial Gardens for six seasons. You think about all the kids who’ve come through, all the Friday night games you went to with your family, maybe even stopped for a quick poutine at The Breakfast Pig afterward. He was a constant. And just when you think he's got the job security of an Algoma Steel foreman, *poof*, he's out. After the Greyhounds got bounced from the playoffs, again, there was a lot of talk, sure. But the General Manager, Kyle Dubas, just said publicly that Dean had his full support. Then, a few days later, they "agree to part ways." *Tabarnak!* Talk about a sudden turn.
### What This Means for the Soo
This isn't just about a coach; it's about the heart of hockey in our city. The Greyhounds are everything here. It's not just a team, it's a piece of our identity.
* **A new era:** This means a fresh face behind the bench, a whole new system, and a different direction for the team. Could be good, could be a mess. * **Fan sentiment:** People are talking about this from Wellington Street East all the way up to the boardwalk by the St. Marys Rapids. Some are relieved, some are shocked, some are just saying "about time." * **Local talent:** Every kid playing minor hockey on John Rhodes Community Centre ice is watching this. They want to be a Greyhound someday. This signals big changes at the top.
It's a big deal for the city. The Greyhounds are our team, *not* the Leafs, *not* the Habs, no matter who you try to cheer for. This decision, coming so fast after public support, it just hits different. It makes you wonder what was really going on behind the scenes at the rink. And it definitely gives everyone something to chew on over their morning coffee at Scott Coffee Co.
Marc-André Desjardins, MiTL Sports Desk, Sault Ste. Marie.
My buddies on the morning show are probably having a field day with this one — catch 'em live at mornings.live.