The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Battlefords North Stars are in need of a Head Coach/ General Manager after it was announced on Thursday afternoon that Blaine Sautner has been hired to run the University of Regina Cougars hockey program. Sautner leaves big shoes to fill in Battlefords as he compiled an impressive 135-72-25-and-10 record over the course of four seasons behind the bench.Ê Sautner also has five years of assistant coaching experience in Flin Flon.Ê He also played in the CIS for the Brandon Bobcats upon completing his SJHL playing career for the Bombers. The 2004-05 campaign was arguably Sautner's best as he led Battlefords to an unexpected first place finish in the Itech Conference.Ê The Stars advanced all the way to the Credential Cup finals, where they lost by one goal in the seventh game to the Yorkton Terriers. "It's exciting to move and up to another level.Ê At the same time it's hard to leave North Battleford. It's a new challenge and I know it's going to take a lot of hard work.Ê I feel like I can meet those challenges and I am confident I am what the Cougars are looking for in a coach.Ê Now, it's a matter of getting started," said Sautner. "It's tough to leave.Ê There was a three year contract extension available to me, but I hadn't signed anything because I thought this opportunity might become available to me," he added. Whoever takes over from Sautner will inherit a club that has 20 eligible returning players from last year's league finalist squad.Ê The outgoing coach says he will play any role the Star Executive asks of him in selecting his replacement.
