Coach Crossley is called up

Fabian Joseph (Pearce photo)

There’s a big change happening behind the bench of the Dalhousie Tigers men’s hockey team.

Former Olympic hockey star Fabian Joseph is stepping down to accept a position with the Moncton Wildcats while Dalhousie grad Brad Crossley steps in as interim coach. A former Tigers hockey player, Mr. Crossley returns to the Tigers from the Dartmouth Subways major midget program, where he’s been the head coach and general manager since 2004.

“Dalhousie University has provided a great environment to develop as a young coach. It is with much agony and excitement that the decision has been made to join the Moncton Wildcats organization as associate coach to Danny Flynn,” says Mr. Joseph, who has been with the Tigers for the past seven seasons.

“This opportunity presented itself unexpectedly and it is one that will allow for continued growth in my career. I realize that it is not the most opportune time for this to happen but I know that Al Scott will have an excellent new coach that will continue to grow the Dalhousie hockey program into a national contender.”

“Anytime you have a chance to work with elite student athletes in a competitive setting you grab it,” says Mr. Crossley, who is taking a year’s leave of absence from his job as a physical education teacher and vice principal at Shannon Park School “And, as a Dal grad I already know about the program. It just makes it all the more enticing and exciting for me.”

He’s already met with the team and says he’s impressed with the “team-first attitude” of the players.

“If you can work as hard as I will for you, we’ll be in a position to win,” he told the Tigers on Tuesday night. Mr. Crossley leads his first practice as head coach on Friday.