Indians Hire Assistant Coach
Published on May 27, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Soo Indians News Release
(Sault Ste. Marie, MI) The Soo Kewadin Casinos Indians announce the hiring of Sault Tribe member and former Indians Assistant Coach Rick Corbiere. Corbiere will return to the Indians coaching staff as an Assistant Coach for the team's 10th anniversary season.
Corbiere left the Indians after the 2001-02 season to pursue a head coaching opportunity with the Tupelo T-Rex from Tupelo, Mississippi. The Tupelo opportunity eventually fell through, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise when the Tupelo T-Rex organization eventually ceased operations after the 2002-03 season after just a couple of years in the South East Hockey League. Fate eventually landed Corbiere in St. Ignace, which became home to the new Northern Michigan Blackbears Hockey Club. Corbiere became the Blackbear's Head Coach for the team's 2003-04 inaugural season in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. Corbiere guided the Blackbears to a 25-17-5-1 record and 2nd place finish in the NOJHL's Western Division. The Blackbear's were eventually eliminated from the playoffs after advancing to the Western Division Finals.
Corbiere was an assistant coach with the Indians during the team's inaugural season in 1995 and spent 7-seasons behind the Indians bench as Head Coach Shawhan's assistant. During his playing career, Rick was a former Sault High goaltender, who went on to play for the Thessalon Junior B Flyers. Before joining the Indians in 1995, Corbiere devoted 15-years of coaching to the Sault Michigan Hockey Association, and has worked with Shawhan on various occasions at the minor hockey level. In 1983, Rick received the John Teets Appreciation Award and was also selected as the Ray Kaunisto SMHA Coach of the Year.
According to Indians Head Coach Joe Shawhan, "We are thrilled to have Rick with us again. Rick has complete familiarity with how we operate......With his additional experience as a Head Coach, he has a better understanding of recruiting, which will be a integral part of his job as Assistant Coach." According to team sources, Corbiere is set to join the Indians coaching staff in early August.
North American Hockey League Stories from May 27, 2004
- Indians Hire Assistant Coach - Soo Indians
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.
