Jim Egerton is new head coach of Cougars

May 14, 2013 · 0 Comments

Jim Egerton (front left) is the new head coach of the Schomberg Cougars. He’s seen with his family.

By Jeff Doner

Looking to shake things up, the Schomberg Cougars have announced the hiring Jim Egerton as the team’s new head coach.
“It’s a new direction for our hockey club. With his playing and coaching experience, he will hopefully give us a chance to step up in the Georgian Bay loop,” said Cougars general manager Gary Waldrum. “His in game adjustments and tactics and experience at the levels that he has played at will make a difference. Jim is a very intense, high energy, enthusiastic guy.”
Egerton is equally excited about his new challenge with the Cougars.
“It’s exciting for me because I’ve been coaching in Barrie for a number of years and I finished coaching the major midgets in town, so a new challenge for me was coaching some older kids,” he said. “It has been a passion of mine, to coach, and I think this is the right spot for me.”
The 52-year-old Toronto fireman not only brings coaching and recruitment skills to the Cougars, but also an extensive resume as a player.
He was drafted eighth overall by the London Knights in 1978 and won OHL rookie of the year in the 1978-79 season. That year he amassed 30 goals, 73 points and 86 penalty minutes in 63 games played.
He continued a high level of success while with the Knights, leading the team in scoring for the 1980-81 season with 43 goals and 96 points in 65 games.
He was then signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1981 and the Washington Capitals in 1985, but was unable to break into the NHL.
He did, however, go on to have a successful nine-year career in the IHL and AHL and was leading scorer for the Flint Spirits in 1985-86 and 1986-87, registering 46 goals and 102 points in the 1985-86 campaign.
Since ending his playing days in the late 1980s, Egerton has stayed involved with hockey and has been a minor hockey coach for the past 12 years. He said coaching is something that always stuck in his mind.
“When I was playing hockey in my last few years, I had some good coaches; Rick Dudley, who is now the assistant GM for the Montreal Canadiens; he’s actually the one that told me that one day I would make a good coach,” he said.
Settling into his new role, Egerton said he is looking to get the Cougars some exposure and develop relations with tier two clubs in the area.
Also new to the club, assistant Doug Taylor comes with a background in sports management and extensive coaching experience.
He has coached minor hockey for 14 years (some of those alongside Egerton), in which he has built an impressive resume that includes four OMHA championships, two league championships, rep coach of the year in 2011-12 and has been an executive with the Barrie Minor Hockey Association for nine years.
Taylor will be looking after the defence for the Cougars.
Waldrum also thanked outgoing head coach Sandy Bell for his years of service with the club.
“Sandy’s contributions and so forth are over a period of 10 years and it was a very difficult decision on the part of the executive and myself in the change of direction and we wish Sandy all the best and appreciate both Sandy and Trevor’s contributions to the hockey club.”
Looking ahead to the new season, the club has already started up its recruitment process and is looking for young hockey players interested in joining the Cougars.
“We have a summer camp that we run every year that starts Tuesday, June 11. It runs every Tuesday night through to August. We’re looking for forwards and defence for that and a chance for our players and those interested in the Cougars to meet the new coaches and for them to get to know the players.”
With camp approaching, Egerton was clear and concise about his vision of the Cougars going forward.
“We’re going to be a puck moving, skating hockey team,” he said. “That’s what I’m after and that’s the way the game is going, but you’re still going to need your big, tall, grinding forwards and your big strong defensemen to clear the front of the net. We want to establish ourselves with a good spot for the playoffs. I’m looking for kids that can skate and move the puck.”
For more information on the Cougars or the summer camp visit www.schombergcougars.com or email schombergcougars@post.com.