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Cents Announce New Head Coach And GM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –

May 2nd 2019

MERRITT, BC – Neil Menard President of the Merritt Centennials is pleased to announce the next head coach and general manager in franchise history: Barry Wolff.

Wolff assumes the role left vacant by departing Head Coach/GM Joe Martin, and will begin immediately. Wolff spent last season with the MJHL’s Swan Valley Stampeders and led the team to a second place finish in the regular season with a record of 42-13-3. He followed that up by taking the Stampeders all the way to the MJHL finals losing in overtime in game 7 to the Portage Terriers.

Originally from Kelowna, Wolff comes to the Centennials with 24 years of junior hockey coaching experience, primarily in the BCHL. His last posting in the BCHL was with the Coquitlam Express from 2013 to 2017 where he served as Head Coach and General Manager. He won the BCHL Championship with the Express in the 2013-2014 season, and was a part of the coaching staff of Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge on four separate occasions, winning gold in 2015.

Director of Hockey Operations Brian Barrett says that out of the 50+ applications the team received, Wolff’s stood above the rest.

“He has a wealth of experience, he’s won wherever he’s gone, he’s a good recruiter, and I know he has a hard work ethic, and he’ll give his all for this club.”

New Head Coach and GM Wolff says he’s excited to be a part of the Centennials organization.

“It’s the oldest franchise in the BCHL, there’s a lot of tradition there and I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

Wolff adds that he looks forward to getting down to business right away.

“I think the first job is to go over the personnel the team has. What the needs are, and start looking for the players that will give us the best chance to win.”

Wolff will get a chance to survey new players at the team’s Summer Camp in Abbotsford from June 7th – 9th.