Selwood steps down as coach

February 12, 2008 - 12:00

By Brian McNair

OSHAWA -- In a stunning move, Brad Selwood has stepped down as coach of the Oshawa Generals with 16 games remaining in the season.

Selwood, who is also general manager of the Ontario Hockey League club, announced Monday that Chris DePiero has been promoted from associate coach to head coach.

The decision came less than 24 hours after an embarrassing 7-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires at the General Motors Centre.

"I have relieved myself -- this is my decision -- as the coach," Selwood said Monday afternoon. "It's something I feel in my gut that it'll help us. Maybe they need a different voice, maybe it's just time, so I decided to do it."

The Generals are currently in second place in the OHL's East Division with a 33-13-2-4 record, five points back of the Belleville Bulls. They have been ranked among the top-10 teams in the country three weeks this season, including most recently 10th heading into last weekend.

Selwood made two significant moves just prior to the OHL trading deadline, most importantly landing goalie Michal Neuvirth from the Windsor Spitfires.

But Neuvirth and the team's defence have struggled of late, something that needs to be addressed if the Generals hope to accomplish their goal of reaching the Memorial Cup tournament in Kitchener.

"Right now, obviously from my perspective it's got to be that commitment to total team defence," DePiero said when asked what his main focus would be. "It's not just one or two or three, it's all six guys on the ice committing to it."

DePiero has filled in for five games already this season while Selwood was under suspension. The team has a 4-0-0-1 record in those games, although all five teams they faced were below .500.

Selwood hired DePiero at the beginning of last season as an associate coach and assistant general manager. DePiero brought an impressive resume from the Tier 2 ranks, where he built the St. Michael's Buzzers into a perennial powerhouse and led them to league championships in his final two years there.

"Chris was going to be the head coach in the summer anyway," Selwood said. "That's why I brought him in here in the first place. I think he's ready and with 16 games left to go, there's something to be salvaged."

Both Selwood and DePiero admitted part of the reason for the change was to send a message to the players.

"If that's what it takes, and I don't want to be a martyr here, but if it means I've got to jump in front of a bus to get the attention of 22 guys, then so be it," Selwood said. "I've never been shy that way."

"It's a way for the players to kind of clear their windshield and just kind of focus on what's ahead," added DePiero. "We're not going to be champions just because we want to be champions. We're going to have to be champions on a daily basis. I think that's the ultimate message from me."

The Generals are back in action Wednesday in Kingston before an important home game Friday against the Brampton Battalion at 7:05 p.m. They will be without all-star defenceman Ryan McGinnis for both games after he was suspended for instigating a fight late in Sunday's loss.

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