Bobcats name Byron Pool Head Coach
March 6, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
(Bismarck, ND) - The Bismarck Bobcats announced today that interim head coach Byron Pool has been named the Bobcats head coach for the 2008-2009 season. Pool, in his first year with the Bobcats, took over the head coaching duties midway through this season after the resignation of Dane Litke. The Bobcats have not yet announced Pools' assistant coach for next season.
"I'm very excited for this opportunity. To be named the head coach of the Bobcats is very special. The Bobcats are one of the top five organizations in the North American Hockey League as far as stability and atmosphere," Pool said. "Dane did a good job of recruiting a solid nucleus of young players for this season and we could return twenty three of the twenty five players for next year. We will fill some holes with draft picks and tenders, but we're already off to a good start."
Prior to joining the Bobcats, Pool was head coach and general manager of the Quad City Express in the Central States Hockey League. Byron attended Colgate University from 1996-2000 where he was a four-year letterman for the Red Raiders and graduated with a B.A. in History. Before college, he played his junior hockey in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with stops in North Battleford, Minot and Flin Flon where he was captain of the team. Following his college career, Byron played three years with the Corpus Christi Rayz and one year with the Indianapolis Ice of the Central Hockey League. Byron, and his wife Kay, reside in the Bismarck-Mandan area.
"I am pleased to have Byron accept the position as the Bobcats Head Coach. Since he took over this young club in December he has done an excellent job of
motivating the boys to compete hard and to provide exciting competition every
night," said Bobcats Owner and CEO Thom Brigl. "His charge is to prepare these young men for college hockey and to get us into the playoffs on a more consistent basis. I like the way Byron is positive and builds up the players' confidence, yet he knows how to put a little fire under them when they need it. He has connections across the country and we are developing a more formal scouting network, which I think will only make us a more exciting team to watch in coming years," Brigl also stated.
The Bobcats are back in action this weekend the 7th and 8th of March when they host the Southern Minnesota Express. Be a hero and donate blood on Friday from 2-6 p.m. and receive a free ticket to that night's game and a $5 gift certificate to Taco Johns/Good Times. Both nights the doors open at 6 for 75 cent beers and the puck drops at 7:05.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2008
- Jundt to Join Walters at Bemidji State Next Fall - North Iowa Outlaws
- Bobcats name Byron Pool Head Coach - Bismarck Bobcats
- IceDiggers wrap up home schedule - Alpena IceDiggers
- Outlaws update - North Iowa Outlaws
- Phantoms Now Face the Rangers on Final Road Trip of the Season - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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