Subtle changes need to produce significant results

paNOW.com Staff

Only time will tell if the Prince Albert Raiders board made the right moves.

However merely picking up the one year options on the contracts of G.M. Bruno Campese and Head Coach Steve Young is a clear indication there will be no more tolerance for another season like 2011-12.

The team stumbled out of the gate and never recovered, fading down the stretch to finish last in the WHL. Campese feels the fact key players camp to camp ill prepared to take the team to the next level was one of fifteen factors that hurt the team this past season.

It makes sense to conclude Campese and Young having witnessed, experienced and suffered through the calamitous 2011-12 campaign would have a jump on a new regime toward correcting the problems.

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Returning players were sent home with frank assessments and clear expectations for when they return to training camp in August.

Giving Dave Manson a promotion to Associate Coach and a two year contract is an excellent move along with the addition of Tim Leonard as an Assistant. He has been offered the position before and others around the WHL, but for Tim the timing and circumstances are now right for the man behind the Minto movement to the upper echelon of Midget AAA hockey in Saskatchewan and across the country.

Craig Bedard was the odd man out. The Board chose not to renew his contract. He is by no means the fall guy. Craig proved over his five years with the Raiders he is an intelligent hockey man with the kind of skill set that won't leave him on the sidelines for long. The Board felt however this move is in the best interests of the club.

A segment of those on the Prince Albert hockey hustings advocated a house cleaning; some would have started with President Dale McFee and ended with the stick boy and Zamboni driver.

There are fans who say they won't renew their season’s tickets which is their right. Others feel this group with Young as Head Coach to start the season deserves a chance to prove what they can do as a group.

McFee pointed to organizational improvements in scouting, education and internal structure as building blocks that shouldn't be thrown out.

While there is no doubting the drive, passion and commitment of Campese and Young in addition to their deep disappointment over what happened this past season the message from McFee and the board is clear. It's time to WIN.

dwilson@rawlco.com