Kyle Makaric moved away from home this season to continue his journey as a hockey coach. He is bench boss of the Ottawa Jr. Senators of the Central Canada Hockey League. The team is currently first in the Yzerman division and the top team in the league with a 32-5-2-2 record.
Before starting his coaching career with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires U18AAA team in 2013 the 32-year old played in the Great Lakes Jr. C league for the Kingsville Comets, the Chatham Maroons of the GOJHL and University of Windsor.
Makaric spent four years behind the bench with the Junior Spits before joining Kevin Hamlin's staff as an assistant at the University of Windsor.
He left in 2018 to take the head coaching job in Chatham before returning to UWindsor in 2020. Moving away to Ottawa wasn't an easy decision but it's one that is paying off. Kyle fills us in on what life has been like since leaving.
In his words:
The move to Ottawa came at the very end of this current off season. It was the week before labour day and I had seen a job posting for OJS on social media. After doing some research it was clear they were a top tier program and one that you jump at an opportunity when it comes up.
After a few interviews it was clearly a good fit and I moved out here pretty quickly to get started. The organization from top to bottom is run with class. Each and every member of our staff to the players and volunteers arrive every day with purpose and excitement. It is a great group of players and I’m proud to be working with them and seeing them have success so far in our season.
It’s no secret that Windsor / Essex county has a long lasting tradition of hockey and has a great collection of coaches. The influence can be seen all over as ideas and stories get shared throughout our coaching community. I have been fortunate to work with Kevin Hamlin and Greg Prymack for a few years and collaborate with some of the best hockey people in Windsor / Essex and just try to bring some of those lessons with me and hope to integrate the standard grit and passion that embodies the spirit of hockey in Windsor.
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