Saginaw Spirit name Troy Smith new head coach

By @MichaelCaples –

The Saginaw Spirit have their new bench boss.

The OHL franchise announced Monday morning that they have hired Troy Smith, an assistant coach and assistant general manager of the Hamilton Bulldogs, as Saginaw’s new head coach.

“We are very pleased to announce that Troy Smith will be taking over as the next Head Coach of the Saginaw Spirit,” said Spirit GM Dave Drinkill in a release. “When looking for a new coach we had criteria we wanted our new coach to meet and Troy checked off all the boxes. He is a person of high character, is an excellent communicator, and is extremely detailed, prepared, and hardworking. The players and the city of Saginaw will benefit with the addition of him as the Head Coach of the Spirit on and off the ice.”

Smith, a Detroit Whalers and Plymouth Whalers alum, spent nine seasons with the Kitchener Rangers to begin his coaching career; he served as the Rangers’ head coach for two seasons before his two years in Hamilton.

“I would like to thank Dick Garber, Craig Goslin, and Dave Drinkill for this wonderful opportunity to be the head coach of an excellent organization,” he said. “I am excited to work with Chris Lazary and our staff. Dave Drinkill has put together an exciting group of prospects. I am looking forward to helping them grow individually and most importantly, as a team.”