Falk leaves coaching job with MJHL-champ Flyers for NHL scouting gig

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/08/2024 (740 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Justin Falk guided the Winkler Flyers to their most successful season in 26 years last spring. They now have the unenviable task of finding his replacement.

The 35-year-old ex-NHLer is returning to the top rung of pro hockey.

Falk told the Free Press Monday he has accepted a pro scouting job with an NHL team he would not name.

“We’ve been through a lot as an organization and myself as well — from COVID to building a roster and learning about the growth that would ultimately lead to a championship and accomplishing that last year,” said Falk, who led the Flyers to a combined 110-43-2-14 regular-season record in three years behind the bench.

“It’s kind of how the sporting world works. Often, success can lead to different opportunities and now I’ll be taking my next step.”

Falk led the Flyers to three playoff appearances in his three seasons at the helm, including the Flyers’ first MJHL championship since 1998. Winkler advanced to the Centennial Cup before bowing out in the quarterfinals of the national junior A championship in Oakville, Ont.

“When you have people like that in your system, you kind of expect things like this to happen because he was successful, pushed really hard and worked really hard,” said Flyers board president Caleb Suderman. ” So it comes with the territory. It’s hard to hold on to those guys.”

Falk, a Snowflake product, will remain based in the Winkler area.

“There will definitely be aspects that I will miss from the coaching side of it, but there’s also some aspects of this (scouting) position that I’m very, very excited about,” said Falk. “I know from learning more about myself that I have some strong characteristic traits and attributes that will hopefully lead me to be successful in this avenue, too.”

On Saturday, the Flyers made Coltyn Bates interim GM and head coach. Bates, 27, had served for two years as Winkler’s assistant GM and assistant coach.

“We don’t want to rush into it just because of the timing, so we’re comfortable putting him in that position for now until we find the right person,” said Suderman. “He’s shown us a lot in his time here and he’s definitely someone that’ll be considered for the position as well.”

On Monday, the club announced it is formally starting the hiring process to choose Falk’s replacement. Training camp is scheduled to open Aug. 31.

“It’s crunch time, but we’re not going to rush it and put the wrong person in place,” said Suderman. “We’re comfortable with the staff we have. We’ll take our time to find that piece.”

Might Flyers assistant coaches Eric Fehr and Ryan White, both with lengthy resumes as NHL players, be candidates to replace Falk?

“I know both guys were very supportive and involved in the organization and hopeful they’ll want to stay involved,” said Falk. “But as far as who the next candidate will be for my spot, that’s up to the board of directors and the process they’re going through to look at the candidates.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca