Sports
November 27, 2008 07:51 PM
Pandovski, Burrows running Jr. A team
Mike Hayakawa
Keith Pandovski recalled purchasing his wedding ring for his wife, Phyllis, in Whitchurch-Stouffville a few years back.
The 54-year-old Toronto resident hopes he can get another ring while he’s in town.
Only this time, he hopes to have one for each member of the Stouffville Spirit marking an Ontario Junior Hockey League or RBC Cup championship.
Pandovski acknowledged he has a challenging task after being named the Spirit’s new president of hockey operations and governor Tuesday.
AHL, NHL optionsHe is no stranger to the league as he served as general manager of the Milton Icehawks two seasons ago before taking a sabbatical last season to spend time with Phyllis as they were celebrating their 30th anniversary.
He had opportunities to work in the American and East Coast hockey leagues or as an NHL scout. With his wife two years away from retirement from Hydro One, Pandovski sought an opportunity to remain in the game close to his Toronto home.
“I was looking to be in the right situation,” he said.
A father of two sons, Bryan, 29, and Darin, 23, both former minor hockey players, Pandovski is not exactly a stranger to Whitchurch-Stouffville. Bryan lives here and he has other close friends who own businesses or live here.
“I know the tradition of Stouffville for years of having a winning tradition. It’s a great community,” he said. “We have to get right back to the community core and get people involved.
“I did it in Milton when we started with just a dust pan and broomstick and we built that team and we made money.
“This will be a challenge, but I love challenges and I will treat this as a business,” he said. “I’m a shaker and a mover and we will make it happen here.”
He met with the players at practice Tuesday.
“I just told the kids ‘it’s up to you to show us what you can do,’” he said.
Pandovski immediately named Ken Burrows as their general manager.
“I want to surround myself with good people. Kenny knows hockey and he knows that I know a lot about hockey. I know we will work well together. I’m a team player,” Pandovski said. “At the end, we’re all in it for the same goal.”
Burrows, 41, is no stranger to the Spirit as he served the team as a scout, assistant coach and general manager for 11 seasons prior to being dismissed after the 2006-07 season. A minor hockey star here in the 1980s, he’s a lifelong Stouffville resident.
At the start of this season, Burrows worked with the Newmarket Hurricanes as their director of player personnel. Last season, he served as general manager of the Collingwood Blues.
“It sure feels good to be back,” Burrows said. “Keith (Pandovski) seems like a down-to-earth guy and he wants to work hard at bringing a winner here. The scene here is a little different from when I was last here (with the Spirit). A lot of people have moved on.”
Burrows conceded he has plenty of work to do with the last-place team. He wants to help restore the confidence of the team and hopes the club can play .500-level hockey for the rest of the regular season.
Loves challenges“Our goal now as a team is to get the kids ready for the playoffs and improve them the best we can,” Burrows said. “I feel we’ve got some all-right pieces in place. But I’ve got some work to do.”
Mark Joslin, who served as the Spirit’s general manager prior to Burrows taking over, will remain as head coach.
“Keith has done it all and I think he will be very valuable for the organization and myself. He knows his stuff and he’s well connected in terms of the league stuff and paperwork that’s involved,” he said.
Agreeing he’s relieved to be focusing his efforts strictly on coaching, Joslin is confident Pandovski and Burrows can salvage the remainder of the regular season by making the transactions required to make the club a contender once the playoffs roll around. “If they get what I need and I don’t turn things around then I’m accountable,” Joslin said.