Ponoka Stampeders’ home game against Okotoks Bisons last Sunday was played without the guidance of head coach Mark Dobler, who was fired just before the game.
The decision was not a big surprise for Dobler, who said he could see the writing on the wall. “Coaches get hired to get fired. That’s how it goes . . . It’s all about results,” he said.
He feels there was frustration on both the coaching side and the players’ side of the team and Stampeders president Ken Kinley confirmed that.
“The team just was not buying into him (Dobler) anymore. But don’t get us wrong, Mark did a lot of good things for our organization,” said Kinley.
He praised Dobler for being prepared before games and having game strategies ready.
It appears coaches and players were not seeing eye-to-eye, however, explained Kinley and he said they just stopped putting in efforts for Dobler.
“I think some of the boys were a little surprised that we did it,” said Kinley of the ultimate decision to let Dobler go.
With only two wins in the season, Kinley added that the Stampeders were also hoping to see more wins. The Stampeders’ season is expected to end at the beginning of February.
For his part Dobler said he was unsure as to what will happen in the next few months. “I may just take some time right now and take a step back and see what I want to do.”
He says he might go back to teaching younger hockey teams for a few years. Assistant coaches Gord Thomas and Blair Grant have been named joint interim coaches until the Stampeders find a new coach.