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Coach Crossley is called up

Fabian Joseph leaves Dal for Moncton Wildcats

- September 6, 2007

Fabian Joseph
Fabian Joseph (Pearce photo)

Thereā€™s a big change happening behind the bench of the Dalhousie Tigers menā€™s hockey team.

Former Olympic hockey star Fabian Joseph is stepping down to accept a position with the Moncton Wildcats while Dalhousie grad Brad Crossley steps in as interim coach. A former Tigers hockey player, Mr. Crossley returns to the Tigers from the Dartmouth Subways major midget program, where heā€™s been the head coach and general manager since 2004.

ā€œpilipiliĀž»­ has provided a great environment to develop as a young coach. It is with much agony and excitement that the decision has been made to join the Moncton Wildcats organization as associate coach to Danny Flynn,ā€ says Mr. Joseph, who has been with the Tigers for the past seven seasons.

ā€œThis opportunity presented itself unexpectedly and it is one that will allow for continued growth in my career. I realize that it is not the most opportune time for this to happen but I know that Al Scott will have an excellent new coach that will continue to grow the Dalhousie hockey program into a national contender.ā€

"Anytime you have a chance to work with elite student athletes in a competitive setting you grab it.ā€

ā€” Brad Crossley

For Mr. Crossley, the call meant he had to make a decision quickly. But he was delighted to say ā€˜yes.ā€™

ā€œAnytime you have a chance to work with elite student athletes in a competitive setting you grab it,ā€ says Mr. Crossley, who is taking a yearā€™s leave of absence from his job as a physical education teacher and vice principal at Shannon Park School ā€œAnd, as a Dal grad I already know about the program. It just makes it all the more enticing and exciting for me.ā€

Heā€™s already met with the team and says heā€™s impressed with the ā€œteam-first attitudeā€ of the players.

ā€œIf you can work as hard as I will for you, weā€™ll be in a position to win,ā€ he told the Tigers on Tuesday night. Mr. Crossley leads his first practice as head coach on Friday.