Double duty for Dustin Howden
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- Published on Monday, July 23, 2018
Photo by Eoin Devereux
Pictured: Neepawa Natives head coach Dustin Howden (on left) agrees to terms on a one year deal, which will see him take on the dual role of coach and general manager. Team president Ken Waddell (on right), representing the board of directors, looks on as Howden signs the new contract.
By Eoin Devereux
Neepawa Banner & Press
Effective immediately, Neepawa Natives head coach Dustin Howden will have a little extra work to do around the team’s office at the Yellowhead Centre.
On Wednesday, July 18, the Junior “A” hockey club announced that Howden will take over the position of general manager. He will assume the dual responsibilities on a one year term, with it to be reviewed by the Natives’ board of directors at the end of the 2018-2019 MJHL season. Howden steps into the position previously held by Myles Cathcart, who stepped down as GM back in June.
In an interview with the Banner & Press immediately after the formal announcement, Howden said he sees this as an intriguing new challenge.
“It’s an opportunity, first and foremost. Discussions recently with the organization lead from one thing to another. We have been able to come to an agreement, so I’m very excited about this new chapter and the challenges that it’ll present,” stated Howden. “It’s exciting to work with the staff [of the franchise]. We’re not looking to change things up too much, but just keep moving ahead on the path we’ve been going on. It’s been going pretty good the past few years. The work done by Myles Cathcart, as well as our scouting staff has the team pointed in the right direction. We’re just looking to expand on what we have been doing.”
Neepawa Natives board president Ken Waddell said that the organization is optimistic about this arrangement moving ahead.
“The board of directors has full confidence in Dustin Howden and his abilities to take the team in the direction that he’d like to go with it. It’s a bit of a new direction, but building on what we consider a fairly strong foundation, in many respects.” Waddell said.
In his role as head coach, Howden has accumulated a 46-64-10 record over the span of two seasons with the club, with an overall improvement to the team’s win totals in each of those years.
