Hatcher named head coach of OHL’s Sarnia Sting

By @SKubus –

The Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League announced Tuesday that former NHL defenseman Derian Hatcher will be taking over the head coaching duties effective immediately.

The Sterling Heights native and co-owner of the Sting replaces former NHL forward Trevor Letowski as the Sarnia bench boss. The complete Sarnia coaching staff will be announced at a later date.

Hatcher bought the Sting with fellow Michigan native and Red Wings alum David Legwand in January (more on that story here).

Hatcher, 42, was a NHL veteran of 16 seasons, one of which was spent with the Detroit Red Wings in 2003-04. He most notably captained the Dallas Stars to a Stanley Cup in 2000. In 1,045 career NHL games, the former No. 8 overall draft pick in 1990 amassed 331 points and 1,581 penalty minutes.

Hatcher is an OHL alum himself.

After playing midget hockey with the Detroit G.P.D. Midgets AAA squad, he was selected 19th overall by the North Bay Centennials in the 1989 OHL draft a team he played two seasons for before moving on to the professional ranks.

He is also the younger brother of Kevin Hatcher, a fellow former NHL defenseman himself, who played an 1,157-game career.