THURSDAY, May 16, 2013
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
A23
INSIDE X Youth soccer round-up/A24 KAMLOOPS
THIS WEEK
SPORTS
Sports: Marty Hastings sports@kamloopsthisweek.com Ph: 250-374-7467 Ext: 235 Twitter: @MarTheReporter, @KTWonBlazers
Head coach Hunchak Kamloops Blazers name Dave Hunchak bench boss, with Guy Charron taking step back By Marty Hastings STAFF REPORTER sports@kamloopsthisweek.com
D
AVE HUNCHAK is the new head coach of the Kamloops Blazers. “Dave has been a great asset for us the last two years, very loyal to the organization and very loyal to [former head coach] Guy Charron,” Blazer general manager Craig Bonner told KTW on Wednesday, May 15. “He’s been a head coach in our league. He’s had success as a head coach in our league. It’s a real easy, smooth transition.” Bonner, Hunchak and Charron were all in need of new contracts heading into next season. The GM signed a new deal earlier this week and wasted little time shoring up the coaching-staff situation. KTW caught up on Wednesday with the Blazers’ bench boss. “I’m humbled and honoured, first and foremost,” Hunchak said. “For us as a staff, we’ve become very close and I believe this to be a very smooth transition. We talked a lot all winter about what may or may not happen. Ultimately, it was Guy’s decision.”
Dave Hunchak (right) will be the big dog behind the Kamloops Blazers’ bench next season. Allen Douglas/KTW
Charron moves down the depth chart into a new position — advisor to hockey operations. He will attend practices and games in Kamloops, help Bonner with front-office decisions and aid with community work. “Myself and [wife] Michelle have had conversations in respect that we felt perhaps that there would be consideration after this year as far as not fulfilling the same obligation,” Charron said. “I think the timing was right. I still have the ability to do something I really like to do. “In some ways, I’m somewhat relieved and looking forward to the transition.” Hunchak’s old role, associate coach, is now up for grabs. “For an outsider
looking in, because now there’s going to be a job opening for a full-time assistant or associate coach, you can see if you come to Kamloops, put time in and do the right thing, we could just keep promoting internally,” Bonner said. “That, ideally, is the best way to go.” Rumoured to be in line for the position is Dean Brockman, head coach and general manager of the Humboldt Broncos, a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League club. Other names bandied about in hockey circles are Mark Ferner, former head coach of the Blazers, Luke Pierce, head coach and GM of the junior A Merritt Centennials, and Jesse Wallin, former head coach of the Red Deer Rebels.
“It’s important that it’s an individual that fits in with the existing staff that we have,” Hunchak said. “We all have a voice and it’s important that the person coming in understands the cohesiveness of our staff.” Also announced Wednesday was the contract extension of Blazer trainer Colin (Toledo) Robinson, a jack-ofall-trades staff member beloved by players, coaches and management alike. Hunchak was head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors from 2007 to 2011, posting a 40-win season in the 2010-2011 campaign before making a first-round exit from the playoffs. Charron compiled a 144-97-7-13 record at the Blazers’ helm. He is tied with Don Hay for second in franchise history with 144 victories, trailing only Ken Hitchcock, who tops the list with 291. “Guy’s done a heck of a job here for threeand-a-half years and been a big part of turning this around. We’re happy that he can stay on board,” Bonner said. “We basically have everybody back, but the roles are different.”
Scott Nabata (left), Jean-Luc Larouche, Mario Bruno and Emily Schmidt are off to Ottawa for the Canadian Gymnastics Championships. Nabata is featured in the story below. Turn to page A27 for a look at the trampoline trio. Dave Eagles/KTW
Nabata aiming high By Marty Hastings STAFF REPORTER sports@kamloopsthisweek.com
Scott Nabata believes he is ready to take the next step at the Canadian Gymnastics Championships, which get underway in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 21. “I’ve really pushed myself the last year or so,” said Nabata, who will compete in the senior men’s artistic division at nationals for the first time, making the jump from the junior ranks. “Everything is feeling really good.”
The Kamloops Gymnastics/Trampoline Centre athlete told KTW last year the “ages of 16, 17 and 18 are when everything changes. It’s either you get really good or you can stay at the same level.” Nabata, 17, said he has only added to his skillset since last year’s nationals in Regina, where, despite a number of nagging injuries, he placed fifth all-around. A top-five finish in the nation’s capital would likely mean qualifying for
the World University Games, held in Kazan, Russia, in July. That will be no easy task, with Nabata going head-to-head with the country’s best, including former Olympian Ken Ikeda, who will be competing in his 19th Canadian championships. “It’s a little bit different, competing with all the guys I’ve looked up to for the past five years,” Nabata said. “But, difficulty-wise, I’m almost up there with them.” X See NABATA A27
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