Longtime Blenheim Blades General Manager Wayne Cowell is stepping down from his post.
Cowell has been the GM with the Jr. C hockey team for the past six seasons, but says he wants to take some time to focus more on his family now.
"It has been a pleasure working with all the people in Blenheim," says Cowell. "It's a class organization that boys should be proud to be part of, and who knows, maybe my grandson will play there someday."
The search for a new GM started after the Blenheim Blades were eliminated from the PJHL playoffs on March 2, 2017 and ended with the team naming Lonnie Hamilton as Cowell's successor.
Hamilton previously served as the Blades' team vice-president and assistant GM.
A release from Blades says Hamilton has "extensive hockey experience at the minor hockey level" including coaching Canadian under-15 regional teams as recently as 2016.
He also coached the Alliance All Star Minor Midget showcase event last year.
"The Blades have a very solid reputation that has been built up over decades," says Hamilton. ""My goal is to continue building on this model so that players want to jump at the chance to play in this community."
Hamilton also stresses that he'll be looking for players who have solid character in addition to solid hockey skills.
"I believe the character of the team is essential to be successful on the ice," says Hamilton. "My on ice goal is quite easy to define, but will be a big challenge to achieve. We want to compete with the top teams in the league year in and year out."
The Blenheim Blades finished fourth overall in the Stobbs Division at the end of the 2016-2017 season.
They went on to beat Dresden in the opening round the playoffs before they were ousted by the top-seeded Lakeshore Canadiens in a hard-fought six-game series in the second round.