Neepawa Natives make coaching change; Kirkup takes over

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Published on Monday, May 6, 2013

By: Lanny Stewart

myWestman.ca

The Neepawa Natives named Dwayne Kirkup their new head coach on Monday.

Kirkup signed a one-year deal with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League club with the potential of staying long term, says Natives management. He was most recently the head coach of the Swan Valley Stampeders, where he compiled a 127-94-24 record during his tenure behind the bench.

Kirkup replaces Ken Brooks, who was the team's bench boss since November of 2011.

"I am very excited about joining the Neepawa Natives," said Kirkup late Monday night. "I know it's a team that has a proud history and I'm certainly excited to join the support staff that's already in place and hopefully we can bring some success to the Natives."

Kirkup's contract ended with the Stampeders on March 31 and it didn't take long for Natives brass to contact him regarding the job in Neepawa.

"On April 1, I got a call and I wondered initially if it wasn't an April fools joke, but it turned out not to be," he said with a smile. "I know they (Natives management) tried to recruit me hard and I'm excited to join the team."

The Souris product says he'll be moving to Neepawa in the near future and is looking forward to getting acquainted with the community and the players.

"I need to be around the hockey club as much as I can," he said. "I think it's best that we're visible as a coaching staff and that way, we get to know the people in our community better."

Team president Dave McIntosh says Brooks and the team mutually parted ways and says the fact that Brooks lived in Portage while he coached the club played a part in management's decision to move on.

"We parted ways amicably," he said.

McIntosh says the Natives have not made the playoffs in three years and believes it was time to go in a different direction.

"Just about everybody associated with the hockey club has been demoralized by that (not making playoffs). It's in the rear view mirror and really, it's about moving forward. That's why I'm really pumped about this and looking forward to next year."

Asked if Kirkup was the team's No. 1 target to be their new coach, McIntosh replied, "Absolutely".

Kirkup, who was named the MJHL coach of the year during the 2009-2010 season, considers himself to be more defensive-minded when it comes to his coaching philosophy and will look to implement that style as soon as possible. The Natives finished last in the league in goals against during the regular season.

"I'm not a high-risk coach," he said. "I certainly like people that can make the first pass out of the defensive zone. I think everything comes from the back end. In saying that, I think we can generate offence from the back end, but also understand that we have to cut down the goals against as well."

He says recruiting is key in the league and he's looking forward to working with Natives general manager Myles Cathcart and the rest of the management staff as they look to improve an on-ice product that finished with a 13-40-7 record this past season.

"You have to recruit well. I know that the management team in Neepawa have a very good list of solid young prospects that are gonna come in and challenge the veterans for spots," he said. "I certainly respect everything they've (team management) done for the organization and I like the energy they bring because they put their heart and soul into building this organization. I certainly want to help continue to build that."

Kirkup stresses accountability and will soon let the veterans on the team know that "everyone starts at zero" meaning work ethic on the ice will be key for his players.

"I think that we have a really good opportunity here to make the playoffs -- that's certainly our goal," he said.

Natives fans are encouraged to come and meet Kirkup during the club's annual general meeting on Monday, May 13 at the Yellowhead Centre.