Otters Fire Head Coach After Internal Review

The Erie Otters have fired Head Coach Stan Butler, one of the longest-tenured Head Coaches in the OHL.

On Monday, the Erie Otters announced the firing of Head Coach Stan Butler following an internal review of team policy. 

The team has yet to announced who will replace the former head coach. Additionally, they have not given a reason for either the internal review or Butler's firing.

Butler, one of the leagues longest serving coaches in the league, started his OHL coaching career with the Oshawa Generals during the 1994-95 season. He went on to coach the Prince George Cougars in the WHL before serving as the head coach of the Brampton/North Bay Battalion for nearly a quarter of a century.

The experienced Head Coach held multiple titles including Head Coach, GM and Director of Hockey Operations during his OHL tenure. He also has international experience coaching Canada's junior teams at various tournaments.

Butler's time in Erie started midway through the 2022-23 season after spending his last few years in North Bay in an advisory capacity.

On Jan. 16, the Otters announced via X that Butler would not be joining the team on the road due to an "ongoing internal review of team policy." The team did not explain what triggered the review.

Prior to the announcement, Butler's last appearance behind the bench was during the team's 5-3 loss to Sarnia on Jan, 11. The former head coach stayed away from the team for the team between the internal review and his firing earlier today. 

The firing is the latest in a series of events that have created a turbulent season in Erie. Off the ice, team owner Jim Waters died unexpectedly last month while on the ice star defender Matthew Schaefer sustained a broken collar bone while playing for Canada at the World Junior Championship.

The team is currently tied with Saginaw for fourth in the Western Conference and seem likely to make the playoffs.