THUNDER BAY – The Kam River Fighting Walleye are looking for their fourth coach in three seasons.
The Superior International Junior Hockey League team on Tuesday announced current coach Jesse Messier has accepted a job as an assistant coach with the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison, an affiliate of the New York Rangers.
Messier, who led the team to a first-place finish with a 39-9-1 record, but whose Fighting Walleye were swept in the final by the Sioux Lookout Bombers, thanked the team for the opportunity, in a release issued by the SIJHL club.
“Their dedication to being elite is unmatched,” Messier said. "I was lucky to work with a group of men and I will always be grateful to have been a Walleye. I would also like to thank the rest of the Walleye volunteers and staff for all the work they put in, it never went unnoticed.”
Kam River general manager Kevin McCallum said the team couldn’t be happier for Messier to move on to an opportunity in the professional ranks.
“We knew when we had hired Jesse, it wasn’t going to be long-term. He has a great hockey mind and the work ethic to go along with it. This is just another example of what we do in our organization. We move people on to the next level, and, in return, get the next best person to fill the spot regardless of whether it’s players, coaches or hockey staff,” McCallum said.
Messier took the coaching reins last summer from Geoff Walker, who guided the Fighting Walleye to their first SIJHL championship in 2022-23 before leaving for a job in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Walker took over from Matt Valley, who was let go part way through the 2022-23 season.
Walker’s new team, the Drayton Valley Thunder, finished 19-35-3 and missed the playoffs. Valley coached the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks last season.
McCallum said the Fighting Walleye have already begun the search for their next head coach. Qualified candidates are invited to submit an expression of interest and a detailed resume to [email protected].
