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They say if you love something let it go and if it comes back, that’s how you know it’s meant to be. For Doug Anthony, a year away as the head coach of the Ford City hockey team was enough. It was announced late Wednesday evening that Anthony will be taking over the reigns of the program that won the PIHL Open Class Title just a season ago under then Head Coach, Glen Kilgore. Anthony was also the coach of the resurgent Sabers from 2007 until 2012. In those five years, Anthony’s teams never finished below, or even at .500. Ford City won the PIHL Open Class Title in 2009 as well.
The reason that Anthony stepped away last season was an admirable one. He said that he wanted to spend more time with his daughters. Like a lot of coaches and former players, Anthony got the itch again and decided to scratch it. While it’s the same old sport, things will be a little different this time around. He’ll still be coaching Ford City kids, but they’ll be joined by Kittanning students as well with the merger between the two programs set to take place.
The Sabers finished last season atop the Section 3 Division with a record of 17-2-1, including a record of 6-1-1 in the division. Anthony will reportedly hope to re-assemble his former coaching staff that he had during his five-year tenure with the school. Anthony let his coaching job go, but the passion he has for it stayed within him.
THIS WEEK ON THE SPORTS ZONE:
Pirates Prospect beat writer James Santelli will join me
Mike Sykes of Dime Magazine will join me to talk about why the NBA isn’t popular in certain markets
Another segment of Mike and Bre’s potpourri