Angus Head devastated by loss of Kings franchise to Deer Lake

Earlier this week it was learned the Town of Deer Lake, thanks to a successful bid submitted by recreation director Junior Pinksen, will run the Kings out of the Hodder Memorial Recreation Complex for the 2017-2018 season after recently getting approval from league officials.
Corner Brook’s Kevin McCarthy was general manager and governor for the Kings franchise for a three-year term that expired at the end of this season.
McCarthy submitted a bid with hopes of keeping the team playing out of Corner Brook — the way it’s been since the team's inception — but he wasn’t successful.
McCarthy didn’t want to say much about the change other than he loved what he was doing for the team and can’t help but be upset about the team moving up the highway.
That was a stark difference from Head. The longtime team official had no problem voicing his disappointment.
Head had been affiliated with the Western entry on the provincial major midget hockey circuit since the first Kings game in 1987 when he volunteered for the team as trainer under coach Calvin Gillingham — father of former pro Todd Gillingham.
He eventually found his way behind the bench in a coaching capacity and has been a fixture behind the bench ever since.
In that time, the program has produced plenty of high-end talent including some who went pro, played major junior, university hockey and in the provincial senior ranks. There have been great teams too, including provincial title teams in 1991 and 2013.
Head was involved for the good, bad and ugly of the team’s history so he didn’t welcome the news.
He said there was a good group of volunteers willing to roll up their sleeves and keep the program they built over the years in place so he’s disappointed for those who have worked hard to keep the Kings alive on the west coast.
He also thinks about the loss of revenue for the Corner Brook Civic Centre and economic spinoff to local businesses who have showed great support for the team over the years.
Head says he hasn’t received an explanation as to why the change was made, but he’s going to be asking for answers.
Pinksen said he was not available for an interview prior to deadline.

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