Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A new but familiar face will be behind the bench for the Deseronto Bulldogs this fall as Brandon Tucker takes the reins.
He’ll replace Steve Durnan, the club’s original coach, who announced his retirement after five seasons and over 75 games coached.
Tucker has been there every step of the way for the franchise as well, serving as assistant coach since its inception.
“I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity to be the next head coach of the Deseronto Bulldogs,” Tucker said in a statement. “Following in Steve’s place will be a tall order but we are prepared as a staff moving forward. This team is tenacious and hungry to build off of our successes and is primed for a giant leap. The fans and community can rest assured that it will all be left on the ice this year and the effort will be there every game. I look forward to the upcoming season, but the work starts now as we build off of last season’s success towards an Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League Championship.”
The Bulldogs have already been busy fine tuning their roster, announcing the addition of former Napanee Raider Cam Krupa, who just wrapped up his final season in junior last month where he had 27 goals and 23 assists in 40 games. They also added Picton Pirate graduated captain Ian Harrison, who finished up his overage year with 11 goals and eight assists, as well as Amherstview native Dorian Overland who skated with his hometown Jets as well as at the NCAA II and Jr. A level.
Going outside the Tod Division, they also signed Lucas Clark, who played with the Port Perry MoJacks at the Jr. C level as well as with the Victoria Grizzlies at Jr. A.
In other league news, a reshuffling of the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League has left the Bulldogs as the lone ‘original four’ team still operating in its birthplace.
Earlier this month the Cornwall Prowlers announced they are heading to Manotick, where they will be known as the Mariners. They follow the path of the West Carleton Rivermen and Maxville Millionaires who also made up the original core but have since moved to Arnprior and South Stormont respectively.
Along with the relocation news the league also revealed that two new expansion teams would be coming onboard in the Lindsay Barncats and Westport Lumberjacks. That brings the total number of teams set to compete in the 2024-25 season up to 16-quadruple the size from its inaugural season.
Original owner Mitch Gagne founded the senior league in 2019 but has now stepped aside, transferring control to new owners Jon Zinck and Joshua Rowlands.