In a move which is sure to turn heads around the CIS and OUA collegiate hockey communities, Concordia University athletic director Patrick Boivin has relieved longtime men’s hockey head coach Kevin Figsby of his duties. Figsby’s termination comes after Concordia suffered through a disappointing 8-17-1 season in 2014-15 before being bounced in the first round of the playoffs by crosstown rival McGill.
“We had hoped that Kevin would take on the new role of development coach for the entire Stingers program; instead, he is choosing to pursue a new path,” said the school’s AD, Boivin, in a press release earlier today.
In choosing to pursue a new path, it is rumoured that Figsby will be taking his talents across the Pacific Ocean to China.
Chinese hockey interested in Kevin Figsby. Will be interesting story to follow. #RSEQ#concordiahttps://t.co/h3E8fvwrFy
— Tristan D’Amours (@tristandamours) July 19, 2015
Kevin Figsby aurait reću une offre de la Fédération de hockey en Chine pour diriger les programmes nationaux de hockey masculin et féminin.
— Serge Vleminckx (@univlem) July 19, 2015
(Translation: Kevin Figsby has received an offer from the Chinese Hockey Federation to lead their men’s and women’s hockey programs)
One can summarize his time in charge of the Stingers in a single word: mediocre. In fifteen seasons with the Stingers, the Pointe-Saint-Charles native racked up an all-time regular season record of 157-191-52. Concordia made the playoffs ten times during his tenure, but progressed beyond the first round only once, in his inaugural 2000-01 campaign. That year, the Stingers were swept in the second round by the UQTR Patriotes in dominant fashion.
The decision from the school’s athletic department to part ways with Figsby is understandable; the team’s performances had dipped in the past three years as the veteran coach struggled to get results out of seemingly promising recruiting classes. In his final three seasons behind the bench, Figsby led the Stingers to a 26-45-10 record, finishing second-last only to the disadvantaged Royal Military College program in two of those three years.
Figsby’s departure leaves Concordia in an interesting position, as the school has stated its intent to appoint an interim head coach for 2015-16 before beginning the search for Figsby’s long-term replacement in early 2016.
