There's a new top dog leading the pack for the Westshore Wolves.
Rob Doyle has replaced Victor Gervais as head coach of the expansion Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League club, stepping up from assistant.
The two were also together last season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the B.C. Hockey League before the team was sold.
"Everywhere I go, people just quit on me. I'm starting to think it's me," the always entertaining Doyle said with a laugh.
"Unfortunately, he's got a young family at home and his decision threw us all for a loop," Doyle said of Gervais's decision to leave the team last week. "He just walked into the room after our game last week and said, 'This is it.' "
The expansion club, coming off a 3-2 win over Campbell River on Wednesday night, is 14-10-0 midway through the season, one point behind third-place Peninsula in the South Division.
Doyle has been behind the bench as head man for the last two wins, with Kevin Fitzpatrick as his assistant.
"Yup, 2-0, don't jinx it for us now, all right," Doyle said with another chuckle.
"Rob has been with the team since late summer, and we are honoured to have him as our new bench boss," Wolves general manager and co-owner Ken Carson stated.
"Rob brings a lot of experience to our group. He has many years of pro hockey under his belt and has the ability to get the very best from every player."
Gervais's decision was his alone.
"Victor Gervais has stepped down for family reasons and time commitment issues. We would like to thank Victor for his many hours and a fantastic job in getting our franchise off the ground," Carson added on the team's website.
"We would not be where we are without his commitment and dedication to this team. Vic will always be a close friend of the Wolves' and we wish him the very best and all the success. He will be greatly missed."
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