Raftis expects Greyhounds coaching staff to soon be finalized

The completion of the Soo Greyhounds staff for the upcoming Ontario Hockey League season could be completed sooner rather than later.

Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Raftis said Wednesday evening that the hope is to have a new assistant coach and a new goalie coach in place by the end of the month.

“Hopefully (they will be filled) in the next week or so, but probably towards the end of next week,” Raftis said.

The assistant coach position opened up when the team decided not to renew the contract of Donald MacLean at the end of the 2015-16 regular season. MacLean held the position for one season.

The goaltending coach position proceeded to open up when Colin Zulianello took a pro job earlier this month.

Zulianello was named the goaltending coach of the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat, the primary farm team of the NHL’s Calgary Flames earlier this month.

Zulianello’s move up means two members of the Greyhounds staff will make the jump to the AHL as Equipment Manager Michael Boyes was hired by the Binghamton Senators earlier this month as well.

Raftis said the Greyhounds were in a good position as the Flames and Senators gave the team an idea of when the interview process would be held.

“The good thing is we’ve kind of known about (the possibilities),” Raftis said.

Raftis said filling the void left by Boyes’ departure doesn’t have “as hard a deadline” but he plans to have the position filled sooner rather than later.

In other news, the Greyhounds announced Wednesday that Raftis has signed a new three-year contract to remain on as the clubs general manager.

“It’s a huge honour being the general manager of the Soo Greyhounds and it’s something I take very seriously,” Raftis, who also credited the coaching staff and management among others, said. “When you get shown a sign of faith by the ownership group, it means a lot.”

“It’s great to have it put to bed and now we can get back to focusing on some hockey and business opportunities,” Raftis added.

Raftis was hired by the team in August 2014 to take over for Kyle Dubas, who left the organization to take on the assistant general manager position with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I’ve loved every minute I’ve been in the Soo,” Raftis said. “The two years have flown by for me. It always feels like it goes by too quickly each year.”

Raftis’ new contract runs through the end of the 2018-19 season.