Anthony Iaquinta is the new head coach of the LaSalle Vipers. "It's bittersweet, especially with everything that's happened the last seven years in Lakeshore," Iaquinta told Powerplay Sports. "It's been unbelievable for me from both a life and hockey perspective."
Iaquinta guided the Canadiens to top of the Ontario Junior C mountain winning Schmalz Cup titles in 2022 and this past spring. The LaSalle native says the decision to leave Lakeshore was very difficult. "It's something I wrestled with because of the great memories and great friendships I have in Lakeshore but at the end of the day I felt I was ready for a new challenge."
Iaquinta extends one of those friendships as Milan Dobric will follow him to LaSalle with the rest of the coaching staff to be announced soon. "I watched Q over the years and got to know him and that's one of his traits, that he holds players accountable and players like him. It's a nice combination to have." said Vipers GM John Nelson who admits he'll miss Shepley.
"He's an amazing human being. He's an amazing person. He was a great coach," Nelson said. "He was an all-in Viper. We're gonna miss him."
The feeling is mutual. "I would like to thank everyone in the organization from top to bottom," Shepley said. "My time there was nothing but amazing. I'd love to go back but it makes it tough with the schedule that we have and starting a young family now."
Shepley says he's not closing the door to coaching in the future and wishes Iaquinta and his former team good luck.
This season will be the first in over 25 years that Shepley isn't involved in hockey. He grew up in the Amherstburg Minor Hockey system. He played for the Essex 73's, LaSalle Vipers and University of Windsor before become a coach.
The Vipers open training camp this weekend. The Blue-White game is scheduled for Monday August 19th at 7pm.
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