Wolves Appoint New General Manager
August 11, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Sudbury Wolves News Release
Sudbury Wolves Owner Mark Burgess is pleased to announce that Barclay Branch has been hired as the team's new General Manager.
Branch, 39, assumes the GM role after serving the past 11 seasons as Assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel for the Belleville Bulls. Branch has directed the OHL Priority Selection for the Bulls over the years and has selected elite players such as: PK Subban along with his brothers Malcolm and Jordan, Brendan Gaunce, Eric Tangradi, and Brandon Saigeon. These players and many others have combined to lead the Belleville Bulls to four Eastern Conference Final appearances in the past seven seasons - including a Memorial Cup appearance in 2008. Branch also serves as a Regional Scout for Hockey Canada's U17 program.
"Barclay Branch has a proven track record of consistency and success and building championship teams in the OHL" notes Wolves' Owner and CEO Mark Burgess. "He has proven knowledge and experience in identifying, selecting and recruiting some of the best players in the OHL over the past twelve seasons. Barclay is a professional in every way and our organization will truly benefit from his leadership. He has what it takes to lead and manage our young team into a contending team in the near future."
" I am extremely excited and proud to be named as the General Manager of the Sudbury Wolves" notes the Sudbury Wolves' new General Manager Barclay Branch. "I want to thank Mark Burgess and the Burgess family for providing me with this opportunity. I also want to thank George Burnett (Head Coach & GM of the Hamilton Bulldogs) for being a great mentor for me. I'd also like to thank the ownership of the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Belleville Bulls for providing me with the opportunity to work for them and enjoy success over the years. The Sudbury Wolves have assembled a very exciting group of players including David Levin and Dmitry Sokolov. I am very excited about the future of the Sudbury Wolves and I look forward to working closely with the coaching staff and building a championship team for the passionate and deserving hockey fans of Sudbury."
George Burnett, General Manager & Head Coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs is pleased to see his long-time Assistant General Manager given the opportunity to be a General Manager in the OHL: "Barclay is well prepared, ready for the challenges he will face and very deserving of the opportunity to become a General Manager in the Ontario Hockey League. Sudbury will undoubtedly benefit from Barclay excellent knowledge of the game, his outstanding work habits, his professionalism and for the tremendous respect he has earned not only in the OHL but with Hockey Canada and throughout the National Hockey League. He has been a trusted friend and a huge part of our program during the past 11 seasons in Belleville and the four seasons in Oshawa prior to that. On behalf of the Hamilton Bulldogs I want to thank him for his commitment and wish him success in his new role as the General Manager of the Sudbury Wolves."
In a season-of-change, the Sudbury Wolves have revamped the entire Hockey Operations side of the franchise by signing new Head Coach (David Matsos), a new Associate Coach (Drake Berehowsky), and now a new General Manager (Barclay Branch). Branch will also serve as the team's new Head Scout and he will be selecting a new scouting staff in the days and weeks ahead.
Branch assumes the GM title from Blaine Smith who will remain with the club in the capacity of Team President. Ken MacKenzie will continue to serve as Assistant GM of the hockey club and will assist the new General Manager with the day-to-day management of the team. Branch will have his first opportunity to meet his players on September 3rd when the new-look Sudbury Wolves open camp at the Sudbury Arena.
Fans interested in purchasing a season's pass to Sudbury Wolves home games can do so by contacting Miranda Swain at: 705-675-3941 ext. 221 or by emailing the Wolves' hockey office at: office@sudburywolves.com.
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