COVENTRY BLAZE will sport a fresh man behind the team bench next season after confirming that Chuck Weber will not be returning to the Skydome for the 2016/17 season.
The 43-year-old American arrived on a short-term contract mid-way through the Blaze’s 2014/15 campaign – where Coventry defeated Sheffield Steelers 4-2 in the playoff final.
Weber guided the Blaze to a second playoff final appearance for their 2015/16 campaign, before falling at the final hurdle to the Nottingham Panthers.
Weber said: “I want to say a big thank you to the ownership team for having given me this wonderful opportunity at the Blaze.
“It’s a fantastic club and my family and I have been welcomed and looked after from the moment we arrived in the UK.
“I have been given tremendous support from the fans here and Coventry Blaze will always have a special place in my heart.
“It’s the natural time for both the club and myself to go our separate ways for now but you never know what may happen in the future.
“I shall certainly continue to help and support the club in any way I can and I shall be keeping an eye on results and how the club is doing.”
James Pease, Blaze director of hockey, added: “We knew all along that Chuck was likely to only be with us until the end of the season.
“In terms of his coaching career, Chuck is still a young man and we knew that he wanted to continue to grow and develop as a coach through working in lots of different environments, countries and leagues.
“Coventry Blaze is only a tiny dot on the global hockey map and there is so much out there for him to experience and learn from so he can become the best coach he can possibly be.
“We were delighted that he came back to do a full season after our play off success and it has been a pleasure working with him. “I think Chuck will be the first to admit that he has learned a lot from us.
“It’s a relationship that has come to its natural conclusion for the time being but who knows what may happen in the future.
“We part on the very best of terms and we wish him nothing but success and job satisfaction in his next role.”
