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The search for a new head coach continues, but the Windsor Spitfires have added an NHL-experienced coach to the staff.
On Sunday, the club hired 41-year-old Kris Newbury as an assistant coach. He will work the bench with interim head coach Casey Torres.
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“I reached out to teams a year and a half ago and sent out my resume,” Newbury said. “This came about quick and I’m excited to get started and learn.”
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The Spitfires have gone 6-4 since Torres assumed the head coaching duties after the firing of Jerrod Smith on Nov. 20th. Assistant coach Andy Delmore stepped down a day after Smith was let go and goalie coach Michael Leighton also left the team a day after that.
Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler said he had hoped to find some bench help during the break for Christmas after helping get the team through the 10-game stretch. Bowler has been on the bench during that time and will be on it Thursday when Newbury makes his debut with the team in Mississauga against the Steelheads, but he plans to step aside, for the most part, after that and focus on his duties as general manager.
“We needed the help and it’s a busy time for general managers,” said Bowler, who is looking at the OHL trade deadline in early January. “We watch players as well as coaches and we believe Kris has a future as a coach and the timing is perfect.”
A former first-round pick in the OHL, Newbury started his career with the Belleville Buls before being traded to the Sarnia Sting. He had plenty of rivalry battles with the Spitfires over his playing career in Sarnia. That included a thrilling first-round playoff series in 2000 where the fifth-seeded Spitfires upset the fourth-seeded Sting in seven games. Windsor had a 3-1 lead in the series, but the Sting rallied to force a Game 7, which the Spitfires took in overtime in Sarnia.
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“I haven’t been to the new rink, but the old one (Windsor Arena) had character,” Newbury said. “I remember the wars in Windsor. It’s what I miss the most is those battles. I think that’s something that drives me. I miss being in those battles and working for other guys on the team.”
A former fifth-round pick by the San Jose Sharks, Newbury played 17 seasons of pro hockey and got in time at the NHL level with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.
“His success as a player, hopefully some of those things will translate to our players,” Bowler said.
Newbury showed himself to be an offensive threat at forward at the pro level, but also had a physical side to his game as well.
“The years I played, I was able to adapt whether is was the AHL or NHL,” Newbury said. “I played different roles in each league. I’m looking forward to working with the kids and not only passing my knowledge along, but also teaching them how to be a good human in life.”
Newbury, who now lives in Belleville, ended his pro career in 2019, but continues to play Senior A hockey.
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“It’s in my blood,” Newbury said.
“It’s just who I am,” Newbury said. “I never got out of it, even when I retired.
“It’s still in my blood and I’m that guy that gets up every morning, turns on the TV, watches the highlights and tries to get better.”
As well, Newbury has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Trenton Golden Hawks while also serving has head coach of the Quinte Red Devils minor midget AAA team this season.
“That was really attractive to the organization,” Bowler said. “Not only does he have an extensive playing career, but he was to be a coach at the grass roots.
“That facts he likes to coach and train players at the minor midget level, that’s a guy that wants to be a coach. We want to develop players as well as coaches and hopefully one day he’s in the NHL.”
Newbury will have to step away from all three of those teams as he heads to Windsor and prepares for this first practice on Wednesday before the club returns to action on Thursday at 7 p.m.
jpparker@postmedia.com
twitter.com/winstarparker
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