Indians fire entire coaching staff

NEWS RELEASE

SOO INDIANS

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NOJHL INDIANS MAKE COACHING CHANGE Soo Indians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are undergoing a major facelift. Charles Perdicaro, sole owner of the Indians, has announced the firing of coach/general manager Jim Capy, associate coach Don Gagnon and assistant general manager/chief scout Jim Yardanoff. Perdicaro termed the firings "the result of major philosophical differences between Capy, his staff and me. This was not a hasty decision. We have a winning team and a competitive team but I have been very unhappy in the manner in which the hockey department has been operating." A resident of East Rockway, N.Y., Perdicaro said he will oversee the Indians' hockey department as general manager and also serve as interim head coach until a suitable replacement can be found. The Indians enter play in the '07 portion of the NOJHL season with a record of 17-9-2. With 36 points, the Indians are just a single point behind the Sudbury Kal Tire Junior Wolves and the Abitibi Eskimos, who share first place with 37 points apiece going into play this week. Perdicaro is in his first season as owner of the Indians. He bought the team from the former owners of the Northern Michigan Black Bears last summer and renamed the franchise the Soo Indians. The Indians return to NOJHL action from the holiday break on Saturday night when they travel to Blind River to play the Beavers. Perdicaro said he expects to be behind the bench for that game and name a new head coach by next week. The Indians' owner also addressed his future in the NOJHL, saying "I love this league...I'm here to stay. I've already made a lot of good friends in this league."

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