Post by coachwalt on Mar 13, 2008 12:18:23 GMT -5
Motor City Chiefs Junior "A" go with experience and a proven track record of success to guide them into 2008-09 season.
The Motor City Chiefs are proud to announce the return to the CSHL, Michigan Native, and Junior Coaching Standout, Brent Agrusa as Head Coach for the 2008-09 season. He is no stranger to Junior Hockey, and has an impressive decade of success at the level.
In the late 90's he took over a struggling Metro Jets team that was in last place in the CSHL. In one season he turned the Jets into contenders and a playoff bound team. In his second season he lead the Jets to a 24-1 record before moving to Louisville,Kentucky. He is known as the mastermind who helped put together the success of the Jets. During his stint at Metro he was also scouting for NAHL teams (Rochester Americans & Capital Center Pride), and that paid off as during his tenure, many CSHL players were moved to the NAHL including former Motor City Chief Player Matt York.
After a two year stop in Louisville, Kentucky where he guided the Mid South Storm Midget AAA to a second place finish in the MNHL, he then set his sites on the NAHL. He was named Head Coach of the Helena Bighorns of the AWHL/NAHL in November of 2002. Once again he would have a rebuilding project as he inherited a team that at one point was eleven games under .500. He once again proved his ability to get instant success as after the New Year the Bighorns were virtually unbeatable. The club rallied to an impressive 29-26-1 record and an unbelievable 14 game turn around. The Bighorns would sweep the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the first round but would finally be stopped in game seven of the semifinal round to the Billings Bulls. The success of the Bighorns would continue under his control making the playoffs in both the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. The Bighorns were one of the league leaders in the NAHL in scoring, and also one of least penalized teams in the league for all three of those seasons including tallying over 100 victories. In three season he continued his success of moving players to the Collegiate level moving over 30 players to the NCAA DI, DIII and Minor Pro Levels. The 2005-06 season would see Agrusa sidelined out of the game with some major health problems.
He would make his comeback though in the 2006-07 season and would begin where he left off with instant success. Agrusa was given the task of moving to Chesapeake, Virginia and starting a junior program from scratch. In his first season he guided the Hampton Roads Whalers Junior B team to a 35-0-5 record, CHA Regular Season and Playoff Championships and the only undefeated Junior team in the Country. The 2007-08 season would see the fruits of his labor pay off as the Whalers expanded to three teams: Junior Independent, Junior B and Junior C. His ability to build the program so quickly from nothing to three teams was certainly impressive. Even more impressive has been the success of the program. His Independent team that traveled across the country playing teams from the NAHL, EJHL, AJHL, OPJHL, CSHL and others in an exhibition schedule. They ended the season with an impressive 41-19-4 record including a 4-2-1 record vs. the CSHL. The Junior B program continued its dominance not losing its first game in two years until November and an impressive 29-2-3 regular season record. The Junior C team would make the playoffs and an above .500 record in its first season as well. As before Agrusa's ability to move players to College and minor Pro was in full stride. The Whaler program saw three of its players commit to DIII NCAA teams last season in its inaugural season. This year once again they are expected to have a large amount of players playing NCAA hockey.
Agrusa, is now moving on to his next project. He will begin rebuilding one of the longest standing members in the CSHL, and one with a rich tradition the Motor City Chiefs. The Chiefs who failed to make the playoffs this season despite having numerous players move to college will quickly make transition, as Agrusa will look to do what he does best, guide them to success.
The Motor City Chiefs are proud to announce the return to the CSHL, Michigan Native, and Junior Coaching Standout, Brent Agrusa as Head Coach for the 2008-09 season. He is no stranger to Junior Hockey, and has an impressive decade of success at the level.
In the late 90's he took over a struggling Metro Jets team that was in last place in the CSHL. In one season he turned the Jets into contenders and a playoff bound team. In his second season he lead the Jets to a 24-1 record before moving to Louisville,Kentucky. He is known as the mastermind who helped put together the success of the Jets. During his stint at Metro he was also scouting for NAHL teams (Rochester Americans & Capital Center Pride), and that paid off as during his tenure, many CSHL players were moved to the NAHL including former Motor City Chief Player Matt York.
After a two year stop in Louisville, Kentucky where he guided the Mid South Storm Midget AAA to a second place finish in the MNHL, he then set his sites on the NAHL. He was named Head Coach of the Helena Bighorns of the AWHL/NAHL in November of 2002. Once again he would have a rebuilding project as he inherited a team that at one point was eleven games under .500. He once again proved his ability to get instant success as after the New Year the Bighorns were virtually unbeatable. The club rallied to an impressive 29-26-1 record and an unbelievable 14 game turn around. The Bighorns would sweep the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the first round but would finally be stopped in game seven of the semifinal round to the Billings Bulls. The success of the Bighorns would continue under his control making the playoffs in both the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. The Bighorns were one of the league leaders in the NAHL in scoring, and also one of least penalized teams in the league for all three of those seasons including tallying over 100 victories. In three season he continued his success of moving players to the Collegiate level moving over 30 players to the NCAA DI, DIII and Minor Pro Levels. The 2005-06 season would see Agrusa sidelined out of the game with some major health problems.
He would make his comeback though in the 2006-07 season and would begin where he left off with instant success. Agrusa was given the task of moving to Chesapeake, Virginia and starting a junior program from scratch. In his first season he guided the Hampton Roads Whalers Junior B team to a 35-0-5 record, CHA Regular Season and Playoff Championships and the only undefeated Junior team in the Country. The 2007-08 season would see the fruits of his labor pay off as the Whalers expanded to three teams: Junior Independent, Junior B and Junior C. His ability to build the program so quickly from nothing to three teams was certainly impressive. Even more impressive has been the success of the program. His Independent team that traveled across the country playing teams from the NAHL, EJHL, AJHL, OPJHL, CSHL and others in an exhibition schedule. They ended the season with an impressive 41-19-4 record including a 4-2-1 record vs. the CSHL. The Junior B program continued its dominance not losing its first game in two years until November and an impressive 29-2-3 regular season record. The Junior C team would make the playoffs and an above .500 record in its first season as well. As before Agrusa's ability to move players to College and minor Pro was in full stride. The Whaler program saw three of its players commit to DIII NCAA teams last season in its inaugural season. This year once again they are expected to have a large amount of players playing NCAA hockey.
Agrusa, is now moving on to his next project. He will begin rebuilding one of the longest standing members in the CSHL, and one with a rich tradition the Motor City Chiefs. The Chiefs who failed to make the playoffs this season despite having numerous players move to college will quickly make transition, as Agrusa will look to do what he does best, guide them to success.
