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# Tuesday's FTB: Niagara IceDogs keep it in the family
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-news-ohl-news-niagara-icedogs-head-coach/
- Published: 2017-08-01T10:16:13.000Z
- Updated: 2017-08-01T10:16:13.000Z
- Description: There's no Leafs news so we're going down to junior talk.
- Author: Adam Selvig
- Tags: From The Branches, Canadian Hockey League, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:15

[Niagara IceDogs promote assistant coach Billy Burke to head coach](http://niagaraicedogs.net/article/icedogs-promote-long-time-assistant-coach?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

This is getting mixed reactions. After head coach David Bell left the team to go work for the AHL Ontario Reign, and training camp a few weeks away, the team needed a new head coach right away. With available longtime OHL head coach Marty Williamson not an option (He was let go by Niagara after the team lost the 2016 OHL Finals), the IceDogs promoted from within.

Billy Burke has been the IceDogs assistant coach for eight years. He helped coach the team to two OHL Finals. He's overseen multiple top ten NHL picks, and more first rounders. One year FIVE members of the U20 Team Canada cane from Niagara while he was coaching.

After all that time I'd say an assistant has worked himself into a promotion. Almost a decade learning from head coaches, experienced assistants. He's been around the players already, they know his voice and what to expect.

However, he's the son of the owners Bill and Denise Burke and brother of the current General Manager Joey Burke. Many people are crying nepotism at this move, and maybe that was the end goal for the Burkes when they bought the team, but its hard to see this as a straight "give the team to the kids" move, when they both put in years of work as assistants before getting promoted.

I'm not trying to be a homer here, but let's see the results on the ice before throwing rocks.

(Hi IceDogs fans! If you want to see more OHL coverage here on SB Nation, pop over to [the contact page](https://www.sbnation.com/pages/contact?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) and let them know!)

Here are your links for this morning.

\*Top 25 - TIE!\*

[#25 - Rinat Valiev](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/top-25-under-25-2017-toronto-maple-leafs-prospects-rinat-valiev-toronto-marlies/)

[#25 - Joseph Woll](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/top-25-under-25-2017-toronto-maple-leafs-prospects-joseph-woll-boston-college-hockey-ncaa-hockey/)

\*Non-Top 25 stuff\*

[Back to Excited: Episode 2](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-podcast-lou-nikita-zaitsev-toronto-maple-leafs-top-25-back-to-excited-episode-2/)

[Winners, losers in NBC Sports' 2017-18 NHL TV schedule - Puck Daddy](https://sports.yahoo.com/winners-losers-nbc-sports-2017-18-nhl-tv-schedule-175242833.html?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

[Report: Wild sign former Leafs prospect Jack Walker to AHL deal - Sportsnet](http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/report-wild-sign-former-leafs-prospect-jack-walker-ahl-deal/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

[HISTORY MAKERS: 11 PLAYERS WHO BECAME THE FIRST NHLERS FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES - The (very loud) Hockey News](http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/history-makers-11-players-who-became-the-first-nhlers-from-their-respective-countries?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Enjoy the first day of August!