LAFAYETTE, LA – For just over a year, Dave MacIsaac appeared to be the steadying force for the Louisiana IceGators as they finished their first season in the SPHL and started their second. Unfortunately, just being steady doesn’t win championships and pay bills.
Tuesday evening, one year and ten days to day that he was hired, MacIsaac was dismissed by the IceGators. The news, first given at a weekly coach’s meet and greet and then confirmed via Facebook post, was quickly followed by the announcement of former IceGator defenseman Chris Valicevic as interim coach while a search to find a new head coach is conducted.
MacIsaac was hired on December 11, 2009, replacing John Gibson who had been Louisiana’s coach for just about a month. As the fourth bench boss in less than two months, MacIsaac was able to turn the IceGators’ fortunes around. The team came within three points of making the playoffs.
So far in 2010, the IceGators are just 7-15 and are again in last place but they are a mere four points out of the sixth and final playoff spot.
Valicevic is considered to be one of the franchise’s marquee names, having played for the ECHL IceGators from 1995-2002. In that time, he topped the 20-goal plateau three times and had more than 90 points on three occasions. He is expected to be behind the bench for Louisiana’s games Wednesday night against Pensacola and Christmas night against Mississippi. Both games will be at the Cajundome.
An announcement on a new head coach could come as early as Sunday prior to the IceGators return match-up with the Surge in Biloxi.
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Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
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