Rusty Kruger confirmed as Northmen's next head coach
Rusty Kruger, Orangeville Northmen (Photo: Dave Fryer)
Over the weekend, the Orangeville Junior ‘A’ Northmen confirmed the promotion of Rusty Kruger as their next bench boss.
Earlier this month, the Northmen had announced that the team’s General Manager & Head Coach, Bruce Codd, would be stepping down from both roles. Orangeville also announced at that time that Nick Rose would be replacing Codd as the club’s GM.
“I am honoured to have been asked to take on this position,” Kruger said in the team’s tweeted announcement this past Saturday. “I certainly have some big shoes to fill.
“For me, the decision was easy. I’m proud to be part of this great organization and I’m excited for the upcoming season. This team has a long history of success and as always the goal will be the same – we are in it to win it!”
Kruger had served as Codd’s assistant coach prior to his recent departure.
The Northmen are the last team to capture the prestigious Minto Cup, winning the title in 2019 with a series sweep of the Victoria Shamrocks.
“We are extremely excited to name Rusty Kruger as the Head Coach of the Jr. A Northmen,” Orangeville’s statement said. “Rusty has been a part of six of the organization’s seven Minto Cup victories as a player or coach, so his winning pedigree is unmatched.
“He is a natural born leader and as a player he is one of all-time great captains in team history and we can’t wait to have him lead this Northmen team as he has countless times over the years in many different capacities. He is usually at the top of the list when people think about the organization, he embodies what it means to be a Northmen.”
Like Codd & Rose, Kruger played his entire Junior A career for the Orangeville club (1991-1996), winning the Minto in 1993, 1995 and 1996. During the 1995 series, Kruger was named the Jim McConaghy Memorial Trophy winner as the top player during the Minto. Orangeville swept the New Westminster Salmonbellies 4-0 that summer, the team featuring a number of notable Northmen names: Josh Sanderson, Chris Sanderson, Phil Sanderson, Brandon Sanderson, Gary Scott, Ken Millin, Matt Sawyer, Blaine Burman and others.
2021 OJLL season at the TRAC in Oakville (Photo: OLA)
Kruger and Codd also both currently serve as assistant coaches for the National Lacrosse League’s Toronto Rock. A former second round draft pick in the NLL, Kruger spent eleven seasons playing professionally: Rochester Knighthawks (1998-2001), New York Saints (2002-2003), Albany Attack/San Jose Stealth (2003-2004), Toronto Rock (2005-2007), Chicago Shamrox (2007) and Buffalo Bandits (2008).
Although it’s anticipated other coaching changes may be made prior to the 2022 season, the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League’s high-profile head-coaching pool presently includes:
Mike Hasen, Brampton Excelsiors
Dan MacRae, Burlington Chiefs
Kevin Lorch, K-W Braves
DJ Clevely, Mimico Mountaineers
Joel Johnson, Oakville Buzz
Rusty Kruger, Orangeville Northmen
Robert Hope, Peterborough Lakers
Steve Toll, St. Catharines Athletics
Stew Monture, Six Nations Arrows
Reilly O’Connor, Toronto Beaches
Shawn Williams, Whitby Warriors
Due to the pandemic, the Minto Cup has not been competed for since 2019. The OJLL did host a condensed regular season and playoffs at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre this past summer. The Iroquois Trophy was won by the St. Catharines Athletics.