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Letang resigns as Attack's coach

Sarnia-area resident Alan Letang has stepped down as the Owen Sound Attack’s head coach.

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Sarnia-area resident Alan Letang has stepped down as the Owen Sound Attack’s head coach.

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The Ontario Hockey League team announced Wednesday Letang is leaving to pursue other opportunities.

The former Sarnia Sting defenceman joined the Attack as an assistant coach in 2016 working alongside Ryan McGill. Letang then took over for head coach Todd Gill midway through the 2018-19 season.

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The Sting are also looking for a head coach. Co-owner Derian Hatcher stepped down as bench boss June 1.

In one-and-a half seasons with the Attack, Letang amassed a record of 38-35-6-4 before the pandemic cancelled the 2020-21 season.

In a statement published on the team’s website, Letang thanked Attack ownership, staff and fans.

“Coming to the rink every day was a pleasure and I will cherish the friendships and bonds we made forever. I’d especially like to thank Andy Brown for all the subtle things he did for me. There were many late nights that his face was the one across the desk from me,” Letang said.

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Attack GM Dale DeGray said he wouldn’t elaborate on Letang’s decision to leave the team, but said he knew it wasn’t an easy call for the coach and “when it all plays out everyone will have a better understanding of why things have happened.

“He’s been a fantastic guy to work with, and I wish that the opportunity did not arise that he’s going to jump at because quite honestly I would have loved to have the same crew coming back. It’s one of the best crews we’ve ever had. No question.”

Letang was promoted to the position of Attack interim head coach following the firing of Todd Gill in January 2019. He was later named the head coach ahead of the 2020-21 season.

Assistant coaches Jordan Hill of Sarnia and Joey Hishon remain on the Attack’s coaching staff.

Letang played 14 NHL games with Dallas, Calgary and the New York Islanders. He had a long international playing career with stops in Kaufbeuren and Hamburg, Germany; Zug, Switzerland; and Zagreb, Croatia; among others, spanning nearly two decades.

Letang has also spent time as a coach with the Hockey Canada program, first in 2018-19 when he was an assistant coach with the under-17 program, then winning a gold medal at the 2020 IIHF world junior championships as an assistant video coach.

In 2020-21 he was an assistant coach with Hockey Canada’s under-18 program.

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