Today marks the newest chapter in the storied history of the Weyburn Red Wings. Team President Brent Stephanson announced Rich Pilon as the ninth head coach in team history.

Pilon comes with a prolific playing career that included a 15-year NHL career where he made stops in New York and St. Louis, playing for both the Islanders and Rangers as well as the Blues. The defenceman was born in Saskatoon and played for the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL before being selected 143rd overall by the Islanders.

Since his pro hockey retirement in 2002, Pilon has stayed busy with various coaching gigs. He coached his son Garrett, a 3rd round pick of the Washington Capitals, up through the Saskatoon Minor Hockey ranks which included seasons in Pewee and Bantam AAA. He has also helped in an assistant coach role with the Saskatoon Contacts and Blazers at the Midget AAA level. 

"I was looking for a bigger opportunity to be committed. My goal was to get into an organization where I could put my stamp on something and this is where I ended up," Pilon said. "I'm grateful that the Red Wing board and Brent are showing the confidence in me to bring me in."

Pilon's hire ends months of question marks around the franchise after the firing of Wes Rudy back in December. Assistant coach Kyle Haines was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season, but stepped down after the team's exit in the Survivor Series. 

"We had some very top notch applicants. Basically, we went from 60-some down to 15 and then down to five. After the interview process, we all just felt Rich was the direction we wanted. Between his NHL experience and the guys he's actually had coach him, and the type of player he was," Stephanson said. "I think his personality bodes well. He's a hockey guy through and through. The players coming in this year better expect to play hockey. Expectations are really high and I'm super excited for this fall." 

Pilon enters the organization with just enough time to get comfortable before the annual league meetings and SJHL draft coming up in June. Current General Manager Tanner McCall will stay on with his current role ahead of his fourth season with the club. The Red Wings are still the only team in the SJHL with a separate head coach and GM. 

He was a hardnosed intense defenceman that played with a lot of energy and passion and he's looking to bring that same enthusiasm to Weyburn. 

"To me, there's no science to the game. One of my strengths is that I'm a great communicator with people and players," Pilon explained. "This is an opportunity for me as much as it is for the Red Wings. I believe that I do have a knack to make players better. My side stuff, I do a lot of development with hockey players. The biggest thing here is finding the players that are committed — you hear it all the time but it's not an 'I' thing. It has to be "we", "us, "our"."

The team will definitely have a different look and a different feel for the 2019/2020 season and it's something Pilon is excited to build. 

"The team identity has to be about the logo. You have to check your ego at the door when you walk into the rink. Whether you're the best player on the team or 20th player on the team, you're going to be treated the same and you'll get an opportunity. The opportunity comes from how you carry yourself," he said. "We are going to have an identity that we may not win every game, but we're definitely not going to get outworked. That's going to be the mentality right from the very start."

"If you want to go somewhere fast, you go alone. If you want to go far, you go with a group. that's going to be my message with this team," he added. "I like a fast-paced game, so we aren't going to be a team that sits back. We have to be committed to defence first. It starts in our own end with our goalie and our D and works its way out."

The Weyburn Red Wings now have a head coach, the roster is starting to take shape and we already have an idea of what to expect on the ice next season. Now, the countdown is on until September.