Long Time London Jr. Knights Head Chuck Dufton Coach Steps Aside*
Saturday, July 12, 2014 - Submitted by Scott Greguol - Ontario Media Director
Message from MidgetAAACanada.com President Rick Virag
On behalf of everyone here at MidgetAAACanada.com, I would like to wish Chuck Dufton the very best.
I had the pleasure of having his London Jr. Knights at our first MidgetAAACanada.com Cup in 2008, where they captured the Gold Medal in a very exciting game.
The came back the next year and took the Silver Medal and since that first tournament we've had always maintained a wonderful relationship with Chuck, his dearly departed wife Wendy and the entire staff and organization including former assistant coach Scott Greguol.
Scott came on board as our Ontario Media Director here at MidgetAAACanada.com several years ago and so our ties to the Jr. Knights continues on through from those exciting years of our first big events.
From everyone here at MidgetAAACanada.com, good luck with everything Chuck. We hope to see you back in the saddle at some point in the near future! ************************************************************************************** July 12, 2014, LONDON, ON – The London Jr Knights Midget AAA team officially announced earlier in June that the long time Head Coach of the Midget AAA program, Chuck Dufton, was stepping down to take some time off.
Dufton had been with the team for 10 years as the Head Coach and took over the team at a time when Midget AAA hockey in London was an afterthought.
After taking the team along with his late wife Wendy the duo put a program together that captured 8 Alliance Championships along with a Telus Cup appearance in 2011 in which they walked away with the Silver Medal after a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Thashers.
Dufton now steps aside with the program listed as one of the best in Ontario to play for if not the best. He’s taken the team places like Dallas, Las Vegas, St. John’s, Boston and Montreal to name a few, in an aim to get the highest level of exposure for his players as possible.
Dufton was always able to get the most of the players he had. Whether they were the top team in the Alliance entering the season or not, he was able to draw out that little bit of extra effort and heart that pushes good teams and players to become great.
Because of the Minor Midget level in Ontario, most of the NHL bound players are already out of minor hockey before they get to Dufton and other Ontario Midget AAA coaches, however that was never an excuse when it came to the London club.
In 2011 the Jr Knights fielded a team that 3 years later have only played a combined total of 12 OHL (Major Junior) games. Here’s a list of Major Junior games played to date from the 2011 Telus Cup teams. NHL drafted players in perentheses.
London Jr Knights – 12 OHL games (0) St. John’s Privateers – 620 QMJHL games (0) Halifax Titans – 327 QMJHL games (0) Lions du Lac St Louis – 889 QMJHL games (3) including 3rd overall Jonathan Drouin Winnipeg Thrashers – 257 WHL games (0) Vancouver NW Giants – 572 WHL games (1)
On June 4th 2014 the Jr Knights Midget AAA Club announced their new Head Coach to be Paul Schepens.
A promotion from within the Jr Knights organization that Schepens is not taking lightly. “I’m excited to be named Coach and continue the great program the Dufton’s created over the past years.” Schepens said via his twitter account.
It appears right now that the new coach will be bringing in his own new staff as assistants Scott Booth and Rob Welch have moved on as well.
We wish Paul and his staff the best of luck this coming season and going forward and hope to see the Jr Knights Midget AAA program continue on as one of the best in Canada.