CARP – The West Carleton Inferno junior C hockey team announced a new coaching staff today (June 24) featuring many familiar faces.

While the National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) season is still up in the air due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions, the Inferno will be prepared no matter how the season plays out.

Last year, the Inferno’s second in the NCJHL, the team made an entertaining run at the playoffs in the last couple months of the season coming up just short by two points in the last game of the season.

Former Inferno assistant coach Lee Warywoda will replace the team’s inaugural coach Hamish Fraser.

Warywoda played junior hockey with the River East Royal Knights of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League before heading to the University of Manitoba for an electrical engineering degree.

“Warywoda’s hockey coaching career began in 2004 and has continued at various levels until his most recent position with the Inferno,” Inferno owner and general manager John Miolta released in a statement. “Lee has worked with Action Innovation in developing courses and teaching hockey skills to adults and specializes in specific skill development with all age levels. He is also an active member of the Hockey International Players Association.”

Lee’s coaching accomplishments include four Ottawa B Hockey League championships, four tournament of champions victories, and a Silver Stick International title.

Two key players on last year’s team will be moving from the ice to behind the bench for the 2020/2021 NCJHL season.

The Inferno’s leading goal scorer and point getter (30 goals, 22 assists in 30 games) last year, Carp’s Corey Symington, will take on the role of one of three Inferno assistant coaches this coming season.

“Corey’s tremendous passion for the game coupled with his hockey smarts and junior hockey experience will be great assets as he mentors and helps to develop up and coming players,” Miotla said.

Prior to playing for the Inferno last season, Symington racked up 91 goals and 83 assists for 174 points in 167 games over four years in the CCHL2 (Jr B) culminating in a CCHL2 Barkley Cup Championship season with the Perth Blue Wings in 2018-19. Symington played his minor hockey in the West Carleton area with the West Carleton Warriors, Ottawa Valley Silver Seven AA as well as the Upper Canada Cyclones AAA and Ottawa Valley Titans AAA clubs.

Another former Inferno player, in fact last year’s captain, Josh McColl-Williams will be an assistant coach next year.

“Josh’s name is very familiar to Inferno fans as he was a key member of the Inferno starting in 2017 through the last two seasons in West Carleton,” Miotla said. “Josh started nurturing his passion for hockey at the age of three in the rinks of London, ON.

Coming to Ottawa to pursue his education at Carleton University, he played his junior hockey career with the Inferno and was named captain for the 2019-20 season.

 “I’m excited to help these younger players grow into better versions of themselves and improve on their hockey skills,” McColl-Williams said.

In addition to coaching for the Inferno this season, McColl-Williams will be completing the fourth year of his honours degree in Psychology at Carleton University.

Filling out the bench and helping out in the front office is Sebastien Lamarche who will be returning to the Inferno bench as an assistant coach for the 2020-2021 season.

“Seb was a great asset to the team last season developing strong relationships with Inferno management, bench staff and players,” Miotla said. “Seb will also be assistant GM with a focus on scouting and player recruitment and will help support the long-term viability of the Inferno program by helping to develop stronger relationships within the community.”

Lamarche played his minor hockey in the Smith Falls area with a short Junior B career with the Westport Rideaus. Moving on to St. Lawrence College, Lamarche played varsity rugby eventually moving into a coaching role with several sports programs including Football North, a Canadian program for playing football down in the United States.

“Seb now focuses his coaching interest back to his true passion of hockey,” Miotla said. “Welcome back to the Inferno Seb.”