Just moments after St. Marys Lincolns were eliminated from the Western Conference playoffs last week, Merlin Malinowski made it official. He told the Journal Argus that he was stepping down as head coach of the Lincs after seven seasons.
“I’ve talked to both (Lincolns’ GM) Warren (Nye) and (club president) Bruce (Graham), and I’m done,” Malinowski said after Lincolns were sidelined in five games by the LaSalle Vipers. “I told Warren before the series started. It’s enough; it’s time for them to bring in some new people or whatever they want to do.
“I’ve been here seven years and it’s been a good run, but now it’s time for (assistant coaches) Bakes (Jamie Baker) and Tim (Schultz) to step up if they’re interested. It’s been good, it’s been fun, but seven years is enough.”
But Malinowski isn’t through with coaching. His plan is to coach the Elgin-Middlesex ‘AAA’ Major Bantam Chiefs next season.
“I’m still holding on to the dream of the OHL (Ontario Hockey League), and there’s another path that’s available, and I’m probably going to take that,” he said. “If it works out, there might be an opportunity down the road in the OHL.”
It appears that Malinowski is looking at working in the Elgin-Middlesex minor system for two years. He feels that it might be his best bet to get to the next level and Major Jr. A hockey.
Seven playoff appearances
Malinowski, 51, guided the Lincs into the playoffs all seven years he was behind the bench. The former NHLer finished with 230 wins; 197 regular-season victories and 33 playoff wins.
He won at least 30 regular-season games four times, and won 29 games another year (the 2006-07 season).
In the post-season, Malinowski managed to get the Lincolns into the league final only once—the memorable 2005-06 season—when they lost in Game 7 in St. Marys to the Chatham Maroons. In the six other years, Lincs were eliminated three times in the quarter-finals, and three times in the semi-finals.
This past season, Lincolns finished fourth in the nine-team loop with a 31-15-4 record—with a 20-3-1 home record. They were ousted quickly in the playoffs, losing their quarter-final series in five games to LaSalle.
“All in all, I have no regrets,” Malinowski summed up. “We had some good playoff runs. It’s been fun, and I believe I’m a better coach today than when I first joined the team.”
Assistant Jamie Baker told the Journal Argus last Friday that he is going to apply for the Lincs’ head coaching position. A Thorndale area resident, Baker said he enjoyed his three years learning under Malinowski.
“It was good for me,” Baker said. “I came to this level to gain experience, and to gain it from a guy like Merlin was great for me. He’s a good coach and a very knowledgeable hockey guy.”
Prior to joining the Lincolns, Baker coached seven seasons in the St. Marys minor system and won a couple of provincial titles.
The status of fellow Lincs’ assistant Tim Schultz is still a question mark. “He has a young family, with two kids now, and he has to make sure everything is okay on the home front,” Nye said.
Schultz joined the Lincolns’ coaching staff at the beginning of this past season.
There is another report that a coaching staff from the Elgin-Middlesex ‘AAA’ minor system will apply for the Lincs’ job.
“On behalf of the Lincolns, we want to thank Merlin for his service to the club,” GM Nye said. “His great coaching ability is going to be missed. We’re sad to see him go, but we respect his decision and we wish him all the best in his future coaching endeavours.”