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OHL Owen Sound Attack

Hectic Summer for GM DeGray

September 25, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Owen Sound Attack News Release


Dale DeGray doesn't have to think hard when asked if this summer was the most hectic of his career as an Ontario Hockey League manager.

At the helm of the Owen Sound Attack since 2007, the man affectionately known as 'Digger' doesn't even think it's up for debate.

"This has been easily the most interesting, the busiest, the most tiresome. There's no question," he said, just as the Attack's 2015 training camp was wrapping up.

The 2015 off-season started quietly enough for Owen Sound.

But when former assistant coach Daniel Tkaczuk left to take a job with the Kitchener Rangers, the ball started rolling on what would be a strange month for the Attack organization.

Just three weeks after Tkaczuk resigned, assistant coach Drew Bannister announce he would be moving on to become the head coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, a move that left the team in a position of vulnerability.

"Obviously Drew leaving to go to the Soo, I understand that wholeheartedly," DeGray said. "Just the timing was not very good, finding out 10 days later that your head coach is leaving to go to Germany. It was just one of those things."

Chuckling, DeGray added "If it could have happened in a different order, my summer would have not been nearly as busy as it was."

While the events of June and July left the Attack in search of an entirely new coaching staff, in DeGray's mind it provided the team with a fresh perspective and he couldn't be happier with the addition of new Head Coach, Ryan McGill, and assistant coach, Derek King.

"Ryan and Derek are great hockey minds, outstanding guys. They're great hockey people," he said.

And DeGray has noticed a change in the dressing room already.

"Take nothing away from Greg (Ireland). He was a great coach, and he was demanding as these guys will be. But it's a different environment and the kids are coming in with a clean slate," DeGray said.

"I think the kids are walking around with a little bit of fresh air."

The coaching staff isn't the only new look for the 2015-16 season though.

With the team's top four scorers from last year having graduated from the league or set to play professional hockey this year, the Attack may be looking at a different roster make up.

The first indication of that was when Owen Sound acquired overager Josh Sterk from the London Knights just after this summer's NHL Entry Draft.

Sterk, who has scored 20 goals in each of the last two seasons was a priority for DeGray, who sensed his team could need a scoring boost.

"When I saw he was available, he was my first priority. I wasn't sure I would get a deal done with the London Knights quite honestly, but it worked out and I'm thrilled to have him here," the General Manager said.

Sterk will be called upon to help lift the Attack both offensively and in the dressing room, places that former Captain Zach Nastasiuk, Chris Bigras, and Kyle Platzer all would have contributed.

While all eligible to return for one final season of Ontario Hockey League action, DeGray isn't counting on Nastasiuk, Bigras, or Platzer being returned from their professional teams.

"If any of those guys happen to fall back into our lap, that's just a big bonus," DeGray said, adding he would likely avoid making any big moves until mid-October just to be safe.

"But it's hard to even think about that," he emphasized.

With such a large part of last year's leadership group having moved on to pro hockey, the team will look internally for players to step up and forge new roles for themselves.

Two of the players that DeGray is looking for to step up are Thomas Schemitsch and Liam Dunda.

Schemitsch was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 3rd round of this summer's NHL Entry Draft, while Dunda was a 6th round selection of the St. Louis Blues, something that DeGray is delighted with.

"Anytime your organization is announced at the NHL draft there is a huge sense of pride. Thomas and Liam are both great kids," DeGray said.

But it's not just Schemitsch and Dunda that will be looked upon to step up this year.

While they were the two members of the Attack drafted this past summer, they were just part of the large group who took part in NHL development camps this summer.

Owen Sound sent nine players to development camps this summer, and in Damir Sharipzyanov's case, it resulted in an entry level contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

It will be up to those nine players to help lead the Attack both on and off the ice this year, DeGray said.

"They get to rub shoulders with guys that are playing in the NHL, and could be hall of famers. They get to see how they prepare. So it's up to them to help bring the younger players along and develop them as well," DeGray said.

The GM believes that what those nine players learn at NHL training camps will be infectious for the others inside the Attack locker room, noting that when the team is getting the message from players as well as the coaching staff, they are more likely to buy in.

But will all of the moves off the ice and the reshuffling of the leadership group in the dressing room translate to on ice success? DeGray certainly thinks so.

"Our team will always be exciting," he said. "I think I have a good understanding of what Owen Sound and the fans want, and it's our job as a staff to put that on the ice."

While DeGray won't make a prediction on where the team will finish, he will predict a change in still of play.

"It'll be a little bit different than last year's brand of hockey," he said.

"We've played a dump and chase style in the past and this year it will be a bit more puck-possession oriented. We've got some exciting kids and they'll be able to do some exciting things."

And as far as DeGray is concerned, that will allow the team to be competitive.

"I don't care if you're a young team or an older team. You have to compete and put up wins and I know we'll be competitive."

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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