By Derek Cornet

Former assistant coach leaves Ice Wolves for personal reasons

Apr 2, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Former La Ronge Ice Wolves assistant coach Darren Martens said it was a personal decision to leave the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team last month.

“The reason I left is because I want to be a head coach,” he said. “I have to find a head coaching position, because I’ve been an assistant coach for too long now and I have to take that jump.”

Considering there were a couple of positions Martens knew were opening, he said it was the right time to leave with the season over and head coach Evan Vossen is beginning to prepare for the next one. He noted he didn’t want to leave Vossen without an assistant coach at a time when it is less convienent. The board is currently seeking a new assistant coach.

Martens, who was with the Ice Wolves for about a year, said he enjoyed being part of the community and assisting the La Ronge Minor Hockey Club. He trained players at power skating and also helped coach a peewee team, he added. Martens has since moved away from La Ronge and is now living on a farm near Mossbank southwest of Regina.

“I had a lot of fun, even though the win column wasn’t where I wanted it to be,” he said.

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As for next season, Martens noted the Ice Wolves have a chance of success with the skilled group of players they’ve acquired. He also said the team’s board has been enthusiastic throughout the last year and they seem to be headed the right way.

“Sometimes things slide over the years and, from what I [have] seen, they’re getting back on the right page,” Martens said. “You can’t change something overnight. It’s going to take time.”

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno