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By Bill Potrecz, BP Sports Niagara
Niagara IceDogs owner/general manager Darren DeDobbelaer sat down with BPSN in July for a question and answer session in the early days of his ownership.
Six months later, DeDobbelaer agreed to another Q & A with BPSN as the IceDogs approach the Christmas holiday break at the halfway point of the Ontario Hockey League season in last place with a 7-16-3-1 record after 27 games.
BPSN: Your general thoughts on where you are near the halfway point of your first year?
DD: “Wes (assistant coach Wes Consorti) and I have brought in some really good players. For some reason or another, they have not meshed properly so it’s not the start that we expected but we believe we are going to continue to pick up steam and get better. We’ve brought in a very good and professional coach (Ryan Kuwabara) who’s going to help this team mesh and bring it to the next level.”
BPSN: What’s been the most difficult thing to deal with?
DD: “I would say the win/loss record definitely. We have, on paper, a very good team but paper can’t play. Just trying to get the kids to mesh and play for each other and not for themselves is the biggest challenge.”
BPSN: What go think your chances are regarding your Memorial Cup bid?
DD: “I feel confident. What they did the Canada Summer Games and the (World) Rowing Championships coming up and everything the region has to offer, we just need our team strength to get a little stronger and if our team strength shows we’re competitive, it should be a pretty easy selection for the CHL.”
