Jeff Moore
Record Staff
WINCHESTER — The Winchester Hawks have hired a new coaching staff for the 2017-18 season. Bob Gould was born and raised in Russell and will take over the reins behind the Hawks’ bench. Gould will be replacing Paolo Gagnon who has moved on to the Rockland Nationals in the CCHL.
Gould was drafted by the London Knights of the OHL in his earlier years but never made the big club instead played in the CJHL’s Ottawa Junior Senators and then the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Gould also coached in the CCHL for three years and was involved with the OHL Central Scouting for a period. Recently, he went back to coaching minor hockey when his son was that age but now is the time he figured he would get back into junior hockey.
The Hawks also hired local resident Derek Froats as their assistant coach after the departure of their former assistant coach Dale Murdock. Murdock accepted a Coach/GM job with the Cumberland Bandits of the NCJHL. Froats played for the Kanata Blazers as a 16 year old and spent time in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs and the Brampton Battalion. Froats, who also played CIS [Canadian Inter-university Sport] out east, finished his hockey career at Carleton University.
The Hawks are also looking to add another assistant coach soon, according to General Manager Keith Ashton. Ashton also announced that Dom Menard with help him out as Asisstant General Manager for the upcoming season.
Ashton hopes the new infusion of experienced professionals will help the Hawks in the 2017-18 season.
