Hartsburg returns to lead Hounds

The Soo Greyhounds didn't waste any time in their search for a new head coach.

Just four days after calling a press conference to announce that they were relieving Marty Abrams of his duties as head coach, the Greyhounds called another press conference on Thursday evening to announce that former Hound defenceman and coach Craig Hartsburg has made his return.

The Hounds also announced that assistant coach Denny Lambert and goaltending coach Terry Barbeau would also remain with the team in their current capacities.

Hartsburg, who was serving as an assistant coach with the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers for the previous two seasons, coached the Greyhounds for one season prior to joining the Flyers.

Hartsburg led the Greyhounds to a 38-20-10 record during the 2001-02 season and was named the Ontario Hockey League's coach of the year, marking the second time he received the award. He also won the award during the 1994-95 season while with the Guelph Storm.

Following the 1994-95 season Hartsburg went on to spend five full seasons and part of another in the NHL as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks from 1995-98 and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks from 1998-2001.

In making the announcement, Hounds general manager Dave Torrie, who was holding the role of interim head coach while looking for a new bench boss, said "we are very excited and honoured to announce Craig as head coach."

Hartsburg's duties officially began earlier in the day when he ran his first practice with the club.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity," Hartsburg said. "This has always been a special organization for myself. It was a pretty easy decision. I'm looking forward to being back in the Sault. I can't wait to get started. I think at this level I can relate to these kids. My dream here is to help these kids get to the NHL, it's very rewarding."

Not only is Hartsburg a former coach with the Greyhounds, the former NHL blueliner also spent three seasons patrolling the Greyhounds blueline from 1975-78 before joining the professional ranks with the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association.

Hartsburg played in 530 NHL games over 10 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars.

Hartsburg went on to say that although the organization will be asking a lot of their players, he hopes to bring back something special to Sault Ste. Marie.

"I know we're going to be asking a lot from the players," Hartsburg said. "We're going to try to build something special. We're trying to build this team to have something that the Sault can be proud of. It's hard to make a whole lot of changes right off the bat. What we're going to do is try to raise the tempo of the games."

Hounds owner Dr. Lou Lukenda echoed the sentiments of Hartsburg saying that stability was a big thing in the signing.

"One thing that bothered us was the lack of stability," Lukenda said. "We couldn't ask for anything more (with the signing). The community is going to be proud. The main thing we needed (for the stability) was Craig's word and that's the most important thing."

Lukenda then said with a laugh "We did have a document signed though."

The Flyers also posted a news release on their official website on Thursday afternoon announcing that Hartsburg had been released from his current contract.

In the release, Flyers GM Bobby Clarke said, "We gave the Greyhounds permission to talk with Craig and Craig permission to accept the job if he wanted it.

"He felt at this stage with what's going on in the NHL, and his own career, that this was the best move for him. Obviously, you don't like to lose someone of Craig's stature. We wish him the best."

As per Greyhounds policy, financial terms of the deal with Hartsburg were not released. Hartsburg agreed to a five-year contract and will also become a shareholder in the team.