After signing an extension in March to remain in his role as the team’s GM, the Kitchener Rangers revealed on Wednesday morning that Mike McKenzie will remain as head coach.
This comes after he took over in November for coach Jay McKee when the club let him go. At the time, the storied franchise had played 21 games, only having won seven. Once McKenzie entered as interim, the Rangers were quick to see a stunning turnover.
Not just because McKee had been fired, but because the Rangers were familiar with McKenzie. They were comfortable with the change in leadership, so much so that they won 10 straight games. While this was a nice welcome back, it only got better as the season continued.
Fast forward through 42 games, the Kitchener Rangers had won 33 games. As if that wasn’t enough, dropping games was a rarity, only having lost six. Of course, this was a huge step up from the record they held when Jay McKee was relieved. As such, the Rangers won 40 games before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
This did, however, give the team time to start sifting through options for potential replacements. The only thing to keep in mind is that much like the OHL, other leagues were cancelled and are also seeing changes. Taking that into account with the global pandemic and its effects on hockey, McKenzie’s coach search ended on Tuesday after having led Kitchener to third in their conference.
Not only that, but the sudden uprise led the Rangers to fourth overall in the OHL standings. Speaking with Josh Brown on Wednesday as to why it is he’s staying put as the bench boss, McKenzie said of the current circumstances, “I think the timing just works out right now.”
While there’s no set date as of now for next season to start as a result of the virus, the hockey club saw it as important to get the pieces in place so they are ready for puck drop. But with that comes additional challenges, this all the more reason for McKenzie to stick. Speaking further to that on Wednesday, the Rangers GM said of the possible obstacles, “It’s a different world we live in now and everything is out of line. The uncertainty of when we’re starting, and if we’re starting, and how long the season is, are all question marks that made things a little more difficult when looking to hire someone.”
As his first move with the franchise, Joe Birch explained why this made the most sense. “This position was a priority for the organization to provide clarity to our current and prospective players and families. Mike did a tremendous job last season and we are excited for the upcoming season with him as our Head Coach.”
Reflecting on last season’s success and the comfort he offers with the team moving forward, McKenzie said to Josh Brown on Wednesday, “I think overall the alignment top to bottom in our organization is a big factor too. I think there is a buy-in from our whole staff. I think we share similar philosophies on what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to play.”
As it stood in Kitchener last season, McKenzie was joined on the bench by Andreas Karlsson and Dennis Wideman. Because of the strong chemistry they’ve formed alongside Kain Tisi and Brandon Merli, all have been asked to return to their respective positions for the upcoming season. Speaking to the team’s accomplishments and what role Mike played in it alongside his coaching staff, Birch said, “Mike and his staff were quickly recognized around the entire league for the direction change they implemented that provided both exciting hockey for our fans to watch and success on the ice as they were well-positioned to challenge for league honours in the post-season.”
Because of the global pandemic, Mike McKenzie will lead the charge for this season, however, the team will leave the role open-ended. As Kitchener Rangers GM, McKenzie and his staff have agreed to re-assess the position at some point in the future.
Having seen the season unfold from the time he was hired until the moment it ended, Joe Birch was impressed with his style of coaching, hence making it crucial to move him back where he started. Speaking to his seamless transition and how that work left a lasting impact, Joe Birch said of his capabilities, “He did an awesome job. He was tremendous with the players and their individual development, the overall staff and team performance and everything else. It was just the right decision for everyone.”
While he gave consideration to many, McKenzie brings the hunt to a close knowing this is a team that can compete and contend. Discussing why he stopped doing interviews, McKenzie said of the unexpected development, “Right now, this decision makes the most sense for our organization.”
At home now in the Kitchener community, McKenzie said with regards to their end goal, “Our mission is to provide our players with the resources, support, and guidance to develop as hockey players and people. I look forward to continue playing an expanded role in this process and working alongside our players and staff on a daily basis.”