Music: {allcanada} GENERALS HIRE FORMER SPITFIRES COACH SMITH AS NEW HEAD MAN

Thursday, June 28, 2012

{allcanada} GENERALS HIRE FORMER SPITFIRES COACH SMITH AS NEW HEAD MAN

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OSHAWA, Ont. -- The Oshawa Generals have hired DJ Smith to take over as head coach of the Ontario Hockey League team.

Smith spent six seasons coaching the Windsor Spitfires, winning consecutive Memorial Cup trophies in 2010 and 2011.

"DJ is one of the bright young minds of coaching in the OHL," said general manager Jeff Twohey in a statement Thursday.

"His passion as well as the demands he will put on our players will help create a positive identity and bring long term success to the Oshawa Generals."

Oshawa finished eighth in the Eastern Conference last season with a 31-30-7 record before losing in six games to the Niagara IceDogs in the first round.

Smith played defence for the Spitfires before being drafted 41st overall by the New York Islanders in 1995.

He had one goal and one assist in 45 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche while spending most of his career in the American Hockey League.