Stan Butler is not a 'happy medium' guy.
We have all seen it.
He is either completely stoic on the bench or he can be one of the most vocal coaches in the Ontario Hockey League.
Stan doesn’t beat around the bush either, so when he was upset during an intermission in Kingston on Saturday he let the officials Jason Goldenburg and Ben Wilson have it.
From the league’s standpoint, it appears Stan crossed the line.
“It was just a disagreement with a referee in the hallway,” stated Butler during Wednesday’s media conference when he was asked if he would be behind the bench Thursday night when the Troops face the Sudbury Wolves.
Butler was not on the bench during the third period of Saturday’s 6-5 loss to Kingston and he was also absent from the bench during Sunday’s 3-2 win as Assistant Coaches Ryan Oulahen and John Dean handled the coaching duties.
Now, the longtime Battalion bench boss is just waiting for a verdict.
“I don’t really know, I know it’s a minimum of two games and I haven’t received anything from the league yet saying how long it will take,” he admitted.
Butler has behaved himself since he has arrived in North Bay but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been down this road before.
Butler was suspended for five games in the 2013 playoffs, when he expressed himself to an official in game two of the Battalion versus Wolves series in the Brampton franchise’s final season and final series in the GTA before the move to North Bay that off-season.
Everything Amadio touches turns to goal
Whether Butler is back behind the bench or not, the Head Coach hopes the incredible roll that Michael Amadio is on will continue. The Sault Ste. Marie native has seven goals in his past two games, five in Kingston on Saturday and two more Monday against the 67’s.
“I find with good players if they are on a good roll you just kind of stay away from them,” he said about his sniper who has 37 goals and 40 for 77 points in 53 games so far this season.
“In coaching when things are going well you stay out of the way, when things aren’t going well that’s when you try and step in and correct the situations.”
Wolves howling?
The Sudbury Wolves roll into town on Thursday. The Troops last faced their Highway 17 rivals on January 31st when they snared a 4-2 win over the visitors, a team they will face twice in March.
Butler believes the Wolves are improving despite their 4-6 record in January and last place spot in the East.
“I think obviously they are on the rise. They were better this year than they were last year and I’m sure they will be really good next year. We don’t have bad years in North Bay so it should be an interesting go from here on in,” he said.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.
