Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Cain named new coach of Soo Indians

The Soo Indians of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League have their replacement for former coach Jim Capy as the Indians have named Kevin Cain their new coach.

Cain takes over as the Indians' coach following last week's purge that resulted in the release of Capy as coach and general manager. Assistant coach Don Gagnon and assistant general manager/chief scout Jim Yardanoff were also let go along with Capy.

Cain had been serving as general manager/associate coach with the AAA midget Soo Indians, but he is no stranger to the NOJHL or to Capy. Cain was Capy's assistant coach with the Blind River Beavers the past two seasons. He also assisted Capy for two seasons before that with the Soo Thunderbirds. Cain admitted to "some initial jitters" in accepting the Indians' job after being offered it by team owner Charles Perdicaro.

"But after talking with and meeting with Charles, I knew right away we were on the same page," Cain said evenly. "We're both in this for the love of the game, to help the kids...and to have some fun."

With Perdicaro taking over general manager's duties, Cain will put his energy into coaching the Indians, a task that he says has him "excited and a bit nervous. This is a good opportunity to get back into the NOJHL and with a contending team."

The Indians are third in the NOJHL with an 18-9-2 record.

Perdicaro said that after deciding to part ways with Capy, several names were presented to him as candidates to take over as coach "and Kevin was at the top of the list...he came highly recommended as a person and a hockey guy."

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