NCDC ROCK SPRINGS’ HEAD COACH DARREN NAYLOR UP TO SAME OLD TRICKS

Rock Springs Grizzlies’ head coach Darren Naylor has a well-established history of coloring outside the lines when it comes to the day-to-day operations of his hockey teams. One would assume that something as serious as a long-term suspension from Hockey Canada would force the veteran coach into a few managerial style adjustments.

You know what they say about the word assume.

Before getting into the latest display of questionable managing decisions, let’s recap what we know from Canada.

In February 2022, the then-head coach of the Nanaimo Clippers Darren Naylor was put on leave after alleged breaches of the British Columbia Hockey League's code of conduct. Then-owner Wes Mussio successfully lobbied for an injunction against the ban, however, Naylor himself stepped down hours before a game in Powell River the same day.

Mussio is the managing partner of Mussio Goodman, a law firm that lists multiple offices across Canada.

Details surrounding Naylor’s existing Hockey Canada suspension are sketchy at best, but we are being told that several players confirmed a culture of abusive behavior by the coach and staff.

“Naylor would have to apply for reinstatement assuming he coached past September 30th. The CJHL (Canadian Junior Hockey League), league, branch, and team would all have to sign off on any reinstatement,” one CJHL official said yesterday. “Based on the seriousness of the suspension, I am sure a few of those groups would want detailed information on why he was suspended.”

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Fast-forward to the 2024-25 season and we find Naylor (and Mussio) in their second season as co-owners of the United States Premier Hockey League’s Grizzlies (NCDC). Naylor also serves as the club’s General Manager and Head Coach and is assisted by Brad Zangs.

After the Halloween night loss at Casper, Naylor may have forgotten this is 2024, and not 1994.

This from a parent-

“Thursday night after a loss at an away game, they were told they had 15 minutes to get undressed and onto the bus or they would be left behind,” the parent said Sunday. “This is not the first time this has happened. Also on that night, there was food on the bus, but players were not allowed to eat or even talk to one another. My son returned to his billet home at 2:00 AM and had to cook food to eat with his teammate.”

“Instead of team building, Naylor pits these kids against each other,” the parent concluded. “Luckily, now the players all know that it’s them against him and not each other.”

Then there is the question about Naylor’s immigration status.

“Other parents are saying the coach does not have the legal authorization to even work in the United States,” the dad said Sunday. “Maybe because he is a part owner, that’s how they are getting around it, but it does not make sense.”

Today’s players have multiple options when deciding where to play. What I don’t understand is why they would stand for such ridiculousness from a coach. Can’t eat, are you kidding me Naylor? After all the crap the coach has gone through, are you going to try that trick on these kids?

There are several older coaches that have been forced to step aside as a result of old-school antics. The behavior coaches got away with in the past are antiquated. Post-game bag skates do nothing but damage the relationship coaches have with players. Communication is key to those relationships and all the coach is communicating is that the game has slipped past him.

It’s time for Naylor to step away from junior hockey. Maybe try some of that crap at the professional levels but his time at junior level is now over.

NCDC ROCK SPRINGS’ HEAD COACH DARREN NAYLOR UP TO SAME OLD TRICKS Grizzlies’ coach Darren Naylor has a well-established history of coloring outside the lines...

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