The search continues for the new coach of the Battlefords North Stars junior hockey team.
In about a week and a half, after learning Ken Pearson had resigned, taking a position with the Winkler Flyers in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League closer to his family, the Battlefords North Stars started the hunt for his replacement.
According to Battlefords North Stars vice-president and a member of the committee formed to hire a new coach, Darren Huxley, the process has been positive to this point.
The plan was to start short-listing and interviewing this week and make an offer near the end of the week, with a potential announcement next week.
The board and the committee formed have had their work cut out for them, as over 30 applications were submitted for the job of head coach and general manager. In a short period of time, hours a day have been spent towards sorting through applications and interviewing potential coaches.
Huxley said the coaches ranged from new coaches to coaches who have years of experience in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and stretched from B.C. to Quebec and even Paris, France.
The Battlefords North Stars are convinced they will find a suitable candidate and expect that when fall camp starts Aug. 31 and pre-season begins Sept. 2 their new guy will moved in and ready for the 2011-12 season.
One other note coming from the Battlefords North Stars is that the Voice of the North Stars, Dan O-Connor will no longer be calling the games for the team on the airwaves. O'Connor took a job with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League and will begin his new job Aug. 22. After four season with the North Stars and in the Battlefords on the local radio stations he is moving on to what he describes as a dream job.