A game of dominoes within the coaching ranks of a pair of Edmonton-based hockey teams could result in a new bench boss for the Saskatoon Blades.
A Friday story in the “Edmonton Sun” says Blades’ General Manager Colin Priestner has interviewed current U of Alberta head coach Serge Lavoie (pictured) with an eye towards replacing Dean Brockman behind the Saskatoon bench. Veteran Edmonton hockey writer Jim Matheson reported the interview while explaining that Ian Herbers could be leaving the NHL’s Oilers to return to the Golden Bears as head coach, leaving Bonnyville, AB., product Lajoie looking for a job. Priestner would not comment on the report. Herbers left the U of A post three seasons ago, on a three-year sabbatical, to become an assistant under Todd McLellan with the Oilers. His contract expires June 30 and the Golden Bears would welcome back the man who coached the men’s hockey program to national titles in 2014 and 2015. The 49-year-old Lajoie piloted Alberta to the U Sports championship last month.