Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A little over a decade after wearing the ‘C’ for the Napanee Raiders, Ben Hagerman will return to the franchise under a different ‘c’-this time as coach.
Hagerman played five seasons with the Raiders from 2003-’08 and more recently spent five seasons as coach with the Quinte AAA Major Red Devils.
He’ll lead a completely revamped coaching staff into the 2019-2020 season for the defending Schmalz Cup champions.
Chris Brown, also a fellow Raider alumnus, will serve as assistant coach as will Patrick Shearer. Support staff Scott Sharp and Curtis Brandt are also joining the club.
Hagerman has been tapped to replace the outgoing Mike Hartwick, who along with assistant coach Jim Elder will be moving on to coach the Quinte AAA Major Red Devils. Mat Goody and Jeff Foster are also moving on, accepting roles with the Greater Kingston AAA Minor Midget Jr. Gaels. The bulk of Napanee’s support staff are expected to return.
“I’m honoured to take this role as head coach of the Napanee Raiders,” said Hagerman in a release issued by the team. “The franchise has been a stable member of the OHA for over 30 years and has combined a tradition of developing young men as well as a winning culture. I just want to do my part in continuing that tradition.”
Raiders general manager Adam Bramburger says the team owes a tremendous debt of gratitude for the outgoing staff.
“I can’t say enough about what Mike Hartwick and his coaching staff have done for our club,” said Bramburger. “Our recent success is a direct result of many long hours of their hard work recruiting, teaching and developing the right atmosphere here. It’s fitting they’re going out at the top of their game. For Mike to experience a different level of hockey and continue coaching his son in the process, that’s special. It’s great for Jim to join him. Then for Mat and Jeff, they’re being asked to coach a really prestigious level with guys in their OHL draft year. That’s a feather in their caps. I’m sure they’ll all have much success.”
Hartwick took over as head coach in 2013. After failing to reach the playoffs in his first season, the team finished second in the league for three straight years before back-to-back top finishes. In 2017-18 he guided the team to a new franchise high record of 37-2-1, good for 75 points in 40 games. This year the team topped it, going 38-4-1-1 with 78 points in 44 games. He wrapped up his Junior C coaching career with a 20-1 playoff record and the Raiders’ second Schmalz Cup in team history.
In terms of the incoming coaches, Bramburger said their playing careers in Napanee coupled with their coaching experience with Quinte made them an ideal fit.
“There was a lot of interest in coaching within this program, but it’s exciting to see two alumni who have taken different roads to success come back to the Napanee area and invest their energies in teaching and developing young men,” said Bramburger. “Players who skated for them in the past always speak highly of the rapport they’ve built and you can see the positive impacts in the way those kids play on the ice.”
The Raiders will bid farewell to the outgoing coaches, introduce the new staff and celebrate their most successful club in their 30 year history with their year end banquet on July 5.