Staff changes continue for Greyhounds

He’s been with the organization since October 2014 but Patrick Sweeney is entrenched in his new role with the Soo Greyhounds.

The 29-year-old was brought in by General Manager Kyle Raftis in October and is settled into his new role with the team as Director of Player Development.

That was the role previously held by Wes Clark, who left the Greyhounds in April to joining the Toronto Maple Leafs as an amateur scout.

“We brought him (Sweeney) in with the idea that Wes Clark was probably not going to be returning after the year,” said Raftis. “It was a situation where he could see what we do.”

The former Ontario Hockey League forward, who played with the Brampton Battalion from 2003 to 2005, served as director of operations for Team Ontario at last seasons Canada Winter Games, the same team that was coached by new Greyhounds Coach Drew Bannister.

Sweeney also spent time with OHL Central Scouting prior to joining the Greyhounds.

On the scouting side, much of the Greyhounds scouting staff will remain the same though scout Saeed Atcha will not be back with the team.

Raftis said the team plans to add a scout in the Ottawa area.

The Ottawa area will no longer have minor midget programs which means players eligible for the OHL Priority Selection from the Ottawa area will not be in as many tournaments as previous seasons.

The new scout will give the Greyhounds an opportunity to continue to monitor the Ottawa-area draft eligible players.

The team plans to formally introduce Sweeney, Bannister and new members of the Greyhounds staff, which will include an assistant coach as well, at a press conference one the remaining hirings are made official.