Molson Canadians mark return to Jr. B loop by announcing bench staff

SYDNEY, N.S. (Staff) - Jim 'Fred' Head has been named head coach of the Cape Breton Molson Canadians, who will mark a return to the Nova Scotia Junior B Hockey League.

This was one of several announcements recently as Head, and the entire bench staff were announced for the 2007-08 season.

Head played his minor hockey in New Waterford. After minor hockey, he moved onto Junior C in the late 1970's winning a provincial title. He moved up to Junior A in the early 1980's suiting up with the New Waterford Jets and Dominion Cee Bees.

After his competitive hockey playing days ended, he moved to the coaching side of the game. He has coached provincial level teams for New Waterford for more than 20 years. During that time period, he was named coach of the year twice, attended many provincial and Atlantic tournaments and lead the Minor Midget AAA squad to a provincial title in 2004-05.

For the 2005-06 season, Head moved to junior hockey as the head coach of the New Waterford Jets, the newest addition to the Nova Scotia Jr. C Hockey League. The team had a strong first season finishing as runner-up in the playoffs to the Barrington Ice Dogs (who had won the title four of the last five years). He is known as a players' coach who knows the game inside and out. Head looks forward to the new challenge behind the bench of the Cape Breton Molson Canadians in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League.

Joining Head on the bench will be Shelly McNeil and Steve Grace. McNeil is returning to the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League after a very successful season with the New Waterford Credit Union Jets of the Nova Scotia Jr. C Hockey League. The Jets won the league championship and provincial title.

They lost only once in the regular season, that coming in overtime. He is a veteran of the Glace Bay Metro Bees and has a long line of coaching in the Glace Bay Minor Hockey organization in addition to elite teams throughout Cape Breton.

McNeil was the assistant coach with the Molson Canadians before they took their one year leave of absence for the 2006-07 season.

Grace was a standout during his hockey days with the Sydney Millionaires. He was the team's top scorer and most dedicated player. He brings a lot of hockey experience to the Canadians and just having his presence and knowledge will be an asset to the team.

George Piercey is joining the bench staff as the Molson Canadian's trainer, having served in this position in all levels of minor hockey and recently has been the head trainer with the Cape Breton Tradesman of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League.

Submitted by David Kjarbo, Director of Public Relations, NSJBHL