Wildcats announce changes at the top
05/10/2010, 6:42pm (CDT)
By Minnesota Wildcats
Ballard named Director of Hockey Operations
The Minnesota Wildcats of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League have announced some changes throughout their organization.
Those changes started with the appointment of Cal Ballard as the new Director of Hockey Operations.
No stranger to the MnJHL, Ballard once served on the ownership side of a club, and has spent his winters coaching in the league for a number of years.
Ballard’s philosophy on building athletes started by naming Jon Liesmaki as head Minnesota Wildcat head coach.
Liesmaki, a graduate of Greenway High School, was a MnJHL player for the Iron Range Yellow Jackets before spending his college days skating for Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
“This league gave me the opportunity to move on to play at a higher level,” Liesmaki said. “I am excited to accept the head coach position with the Wildcats. I look forward to mentoring and developing our players to take their game to the next level, whether that step is up to Tier I or II at the junior level or into the college ranks.”
Said Ballard, “As a player, Liesmaki was one of the best leaders I have ever come across, and as a head coach I can only imagine how good he’ll be. He goes at 100 percent all the time. We are very fortunate to have him.”
Sticking with the northern Minnesota coaching theme, the Wildcats also announced that International Falls native Mike Glowack as accepted an assisting coaching position with the team.
“Mike has a strong background in Minnesota hockey,” said Wildcats general manager Phil Diskerud. “He comes to us from International Falls, bringing a solid work ethic and expertise to our defense and special teams”.
The Wildcats will hold and Open Camp June 18-20, 2010.
Registration forms for the camp are available at www.wildcatsjrhockey.com.
Tag(s): News MN Wildcats
