Navy Vets replace coaching staff

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In a surprising move, the Woodstock Navy Vets recently dismissed three of their four coaches and promptly replaced them. The decision is particularly striking given that the team was tied for first place in the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s Doherty Division at the time.

The club announced late last week it had fired head coach Justin Elms and assistants Chris Thompson, Chris Nauts and Chris Jensen. Elms, a Woodstock native, was in his first season at the helm after several years as an assistant and six years as a player. Thompson, Nauts and Jensen, also former players, were in their first season as assistants. Goalie coach Keaghan Brett was spared the chopping block and remains with the team.

The Echo reached out to team president Devon Young and general manager Darren Young for comment but did not hear back by press time on Wednesday. Rumours have been circulating in the junior hockey community that the team may be looking to make the jump to either the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) or the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). The team has not publicly provided any rationale for the coaching moves.

The team’s new coaches bring a local flavour and a long record of experience and success. Head coach Adam Wallace is a two-time Memorial Cup winner as a player with the Windsor Spitfires with over 30 years of coaching experience. Most recently, he won the 2022 Cherry Cup while leading the Cambridge RedHawks. He was the Navy Vets head coach in the 2013-14 and 2016-17 seasons.

Brent Wallace follows his brother as an assistant. He was also behind the Cambridge bench and is a Woodstock graduate. Associate coach Jeff Reid rounds out the staff - he was also a member of the RedHawks staff.

The first game behind the bench with the new coaching staff resulted in a 4-3 overtime loss in Wellesley on Sunday. Wellesley jumped out to a 2-0 lead just three minutes into the second period but Owen Ireton cut the lead to one with his ninth of the season. The Applejacks regained a two-goal lead but goals from Ireton and Cooper Vickerman, with his 12th, forced the extra period. Wellesley scored the game-winning goal just before the two-minute mark of overtime. Tyler Bouck stopped 35 of the 39 shots he faced in a losing effort.

The Navy Vets have two home games this weekend. Dorchester is in town on Friday, while Tavistock heads up Highway 59 on Saturday.