Kudos to Coach Cain and the Indians

 by Randy Russon

 

 Taking over as coach of a team in mid season is not easy.

 

Taking over as coach of a team with a winning record is that much more difficult.

 

Kevin Cain has made good of a delicate situation. Cain, who took over as head coach of the Soo Indians from the fired Jim Capy in early January, finished off a first-place regular season for the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League club on Saturday night.

 

The Indians edged the visiting Manitoulin Islanders 5-4 to finish atop the NOJHL standings with a 31-15-2 record. The Indians were 17-9-2 when Capy was let go and went 14-6 under Cain, including a 9-2 record to end the season and overtake the defending champion Sudbury Jr. Wolves for top spot.

 

"He's a really good coach, a really good guy and he's done a really good job for us," Indians' captain Isaac Viau said of Cain. "He brought stability to the team and made us all a lot closer."

 

Cain praised his players and the two assistants he brought on board, Al DiPasquo and Warren LaVoy.

 

"This could have gone either way," Cain said of the coaching change. "But the kids came together and finishing in first is very special. Al and Warren have been great and between us, the players and a guy like (equipment manager) Jeff Stefanski who is such a big help to the organization, this was a real team effort." 

 

Indians' owner Charles Perdicaro was rather blunt in his assessment of what it took to win the regular-season title.

 

"We have a great group of players but it all started the day I hired Kevin to coach the team. He overcame a lot of obstacles and there were factions out there who did not want to see this team succeed. Those people know who they are. But it just proves that with Kevin, his staff and the players that cream rises to to the top. As for the others, well, shit goes to the bottom, I guess."