New bench boss Jordan Bailey says fans can expect the same brand of Huskies hockey this coming season, continuing the legacy and principles of longtime coach Ryan Ramsay.
After spending four years with the organization as an assistant coach – one in Whitby and three in the Highlands – Bailey told The Highlander he’s “excited, proud and beyond honoured” to be leading the franchise into a new era. He was with the team for its first two seasons in Haliburton County, from 2021-2023, before moving to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens as an assistant for 2023-24. He returned to Haliburton last fall.
“This is one of the things we had talked about when I was coming back to Haliburton – if Ryan were to find another opportunity, would I be ready,” Bailey said. “I didn’t think it would be this soon, but I got the call over the summer and immediately felt this rush… this is an amazing opportunity.”
This is Bailey’s first stint as a head coach and comes after Ramsay took a skills and development coaching role with the Ontario Hockey League’s Peterborough Petes. Ramsay will maintain a presence with the Huskies, staying on as the team’s general manager.
Bailey will be backed up this coming season by assistants Owen Flood and Evan Foley. He’ll take the lead with forwards and the powerplay, while delegating defensive and penalty kill duties to Flood and Foley.
“I don’t see much changing as far as systems and how things are run. Ryan is still going to be a massive part of this organization. He, Owen and I have done everything together as a coaching stuff – we have a great relationship. Every decision is broken down, discussed and decided upon pretty equally, with everyone having a voice at the table. That won’t change,” Bailey said.
He sees Ramsay as a major hockey influence and mentor, saying a Jordan Bailey coached team will carry many of the same characteristics as recent Huskies squads.
“We’re going to look to be a very fast, north, heavy team. I love the way we played last year. The fans want to see a team that competes night in and night out. Work ethic away from the puck is very important – if you’re making a turnover, you’d better get that puck back, we tell people to finish their checks. It’s about doing things the right way,” Bailey said.
With players returning for training camp Aug. 21, he’s had a couple of weeks to drill down on systems and make newcomers feel at home. The season kicks off Sept. 6 with a home tilt against the Cobourg Cougars.
There will be some familiar names in the lineup – goaltenders Stephen Toltl and Carter Nadon are back, so too defencemen Kaiden Thatcher, Curtis Allen and Oliver Tang and forwards Isaac Larmand, Daniel Vasic and Chase Del Colombo.
With most newcomers born in 2007 or 2008, so between 16 and 18 years old, Bailey said the Huskies will be one of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s youngest to start the season.
“That will give guys an opportunity to show their skills and figure out where they belong in junior hockey,” he said.
Recruitment will ramp up again mid-to-late September, when OHL teams make their final cuts. Bailey said the team will be looking for players who can add size and grit to the team.
“We were one of the bigger and heavier teams last year and that really helped us through the regular season and especially in playoffs,” he said. “We want guys with good motors and who are ready to come in every day and work.”
After finishing last year in third in the East Conference, recording 40 wins in 56 games, and making it to the conference finals in playoffs, Bailey said he’d love to go one step further and bring an inaugural championship to Haliburton County.
“It’s hard to put a finger on what exactly we need to do to win… we broke down last year a lot over the summer and, against Trenton, it was so close. We felt like a bounce here, a bounce there and it could have been a different series. At that level, it’s all about focus, staying on task and taking opportunities when they come. We have to be dialled in at all times.
“We’ve seen the level we need to be at – a lot of our guys [have come back] hungry and raring to go, ready to have a great season,” Bailey said.
