Brad Knight broke his silence Friday after stepping down from his post as general manager and head coach of the Victoria Grizzlies last Sunday.
Knight, who originally did not want to comment regarding his departure, was extremely positive moving forward, after having to step away from the hockey club after its 11-10-0-5 start to the B.C. Hockey League season.
“I think everything has happened for all the right reasons. When it happened, it was a bit more frustrating, but now when I look at the possibilities in front of me, everything does happen for a reason,” he said.
“As far as how it all went down, could it have been better? Yeah, it probably could have. At the time you’re probably more disappointed, but when you take a couple of days and you go for a walk and you reflect, you find out what’s really important,” he added.
On edge and pressured during his last week with the club, especially after a 5-2 loss to Cowichan Valley, Knight is proud of the group he left behind for his replacement, Craig Didmon.
“I think that team is full of character and has the ability to win some games,” said Knight. “Ultimately, it’s a team that is set up for a good playoff run. It’s big and physical and there is a lot of good leadership, with the back end very strong and deep goaltending, so I think he’s set up for some good success there.”
But it’s obviously hard for Knight not to be there to see it through to the end.
“It is,” he admitted. “People don’t see the bond you form with the kids, they rely on you and you rely on them. Every time there is a coaching change, it goes both ways. There are kids that played well under you that will be disappointed and there are kids who didn’t, who will be happy to try it with someone else.
“But it’s really about the kids. If the kids win, that’s all that really matters and that’s all that ever mattered to me.”
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
