
Marshals announce new hockey operations department, Converse takes over as GM/coach
August 11, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Central Texas Marshals News Release
The Central Texas Marshals have appointed three accomplished hockey men to form the club's new hockey operations department.
The Marshals new director of hockey operations is Rylan Ferster, the new general manager and head coach is Trevor Converse and the new assistant coach is Jacques Mailhot.
The announcement was made by Dr. Steven Marsh, who leads the five-person ownership group that was granted an NAHL membership in Central Texas last week.
"We have assembled an excellent department," said Dr. Marsh. "All three have proven they are leaders and winners, who know how to work with and mold young players. We expect they will bring those leadership qualities to bear for us in the NAHL."
Ferster, who is also part of the ownership group, spent the past three seasons as Head Coach of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the British Columbia Hockey League, one of North America's premier Tier 2 Junior A teams.
He guided the Silverbacks to 112 wins, 59 losses and 9 ties in their first three seasons in the league. The team had five players drafted in this past NHL Entry Draft, including an unprecedented two in the first round. Under Rylan's guidance the team has sent over 20 players to NCAA Division I colleges in the past three years, including seven this past season.
Converse coached the NAHL's Lone Star Cavalry last season. An expansion club, the Cavalry started slow, and then caught fire, finishing 28-22-6, narrowly missing a playoff spot.
In discussing his philosophy for building the Marshals, Converse believes a team's foundation is built on discipline and hard work. He also believes that a successful program can be developed when all players execute these characteristics. Converse's objectives are to develop quality individuals both on and off the ice and ensure that his players are being groomed to take the next step to college hockey and subsequently to the professional hockey ranks.
Mailhot spent 14 years as a professional, playing five games for the NHL's Quebec Nordiques in 1988-89. Jacques has spent time at almost every professional level and knows first-hand the hard work required to take the step up on the next rung of the development ladder.
"Jacques has a passion for the game that is refreshing, " said Converse, a former teammate of Mailhotâs. "He put is heart and soul into the game as a player and I know he will approach his coaching career the same way."
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