Tony Hand and Willie Dunn named as new Warriors Head Coach and General Manager
After extensive discussions and meetings, Whitley Bay Ice Rink Management Team have appointed a new Head Coach and General Manager for Whitley Warriors Ice Hockey Club.
Whitley Warriors are thrilled to announce Tony Hand MBE has been appointed as Head Coach and Willie Dunn has been appointed as General Manager of the Club.
Whitley Bay Ice Rink Management said the following: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Tony Hand as Head Coach for Whitley Warriors for next season. Tony is arguably one of the best players Britain has produced and with him comes a wealth of knowledge and extensive coaching experience. We are confident with Tony at the helm, the Warriors will be challenging for league and cup trophies. Tony has also expressed his desire to form a close relationship with our Juniors to develop the future Warriors. Willie has amassed boundless managerial experience running Murrayfield Racers and we look forward to working with Tony and Willie for what will be an exciting season ahead.”
Tony Hand made his senior debut icing for Murrayfield Racers in 1981 at the tender age of 14 and went on the become one of the finest players this country has ever produced, amassing over 4000 points. Hand was drafted by Edmonton Oilers in the 12th round on the 1986 NHL draft, making him the first British player to do so, icing alongside Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier.
Tony Hand said: “I am delighted to be appointed Head Coach of the Warriors. I’ve been friends with David and Paul for years and they have done a great job with the team. My job now will be to build the squad for the challenges ahead. Solway have set the standard in the league and we must strive to reach that level. It will not be easy and will take time but my aim is to get there and build a legacy in Whitley Bay. I will be reaching out to players old and new to outline my vision for the team and get them on board with the journey.
“We will work in partnership with the juniors to create a pathway for good local talent into the Warriors setup, as that must be the future of the club. I would like to thank the owners and management of the Rink for giving me this post and I was very impressed with their vision of what the future brings for the team.”
Willie Dunn comes to the Warriors after being Managing Director of Murrayfield Racers for two years, working alongside Hand.
Dunn added: “As a hockey fan, Whitley Bay was always one of my favourite places to visit. The passion and commitment of the players and fans was second to none. Our games with Murrayfield here cemented that belief and we want to take that passion and engage with the fans over our vision for the future. We need their support and the support of local businesses to drive the club forward and rise to the challenges ahead. I fully believe in engaging the fans with this process and we will be hosting a fans forum in the next few weeks at the rink to outline our vision and to hear from the fans. Full details of this will be forthcoming but rest assured, the bar will be open! The Journey Starts Now.”
Whitley Warriors are committed to keeping fans updated and engaged throughout the summer on signings and plans for 2023-24 season so if you wish to know more please make sure you follow our social media pages – links at the bottom of the page.