OHL Notebook: Former Greyhound to coach Oshawa

The Memorial Cup champions have a new head coach and it's a familiar name around Sault Ste. Marie.

The Oshawa Generals named Bob Jones as their new head coach on Wednesday morning to replace D.J. Smith, who took a job with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant coach earlier this month.

“It’s exciting,” Jones told The Windsor Star. “I’ve spent the last 20 years in this league and waiting for this opportunity to come.

“I’ve had success in Windsor and it was a fun ride, but I’m looking forward to the challenge of putting Oshawa on top.”

Jones leaves an associate coaching position with the Windsor Spitfires to take the job. He also spent a season as the Spitfires head coach while current coach Bob Boughner served as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2010-11 season.

The 45-year-old is a former Soo Greyhounds defenceman.

Jones spent five seasons with the Greyhounds beginning in 1985 and played 223 games with the team.

He also spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Greyhounds, beginning in the 1995-96 season.

In other news, Greyhounds forward Jared McCann was named one of 24 forwards who will participate in Hockey Canada’s summer showcase, which begins on July 29.

The showcase will see Hockey Canada bring together 194 players to compete in development camps at their respective age levels, which includes the Canadian National Junior team.

Sault product Brendan Perlini, who plays for the Niagara IceDogs, was also named to the National Junior Team portion of the showcase.

Hockey Canada also named the camp rosters for the Under-18 and Under-17 age groups and Greyhounds first round pick Liam Hawel.