Kawartha Komets Coach Named Lakefield Chiefs' GM

Dennis Anderson - Center

The Jack McGee Kawartha Komets are pleased that one of our coaches and the father of one of our players was recently named as the new General Manager of the Lakefield Fitzsimmons Towing and Repair Chiefs.

Dennis Anderson is one of the Komets' Junior coaches and his son Jeff plays for the Juniors.

The following article by the Peterborough Examiner Sports Director, Mike Davies, was published recently:

Dennis Anderson is the Lakefield Fitzsimmons Towing and Repair Chiefs new general manager.

Anderson, 60, previously coach of the Norwood Vipers, will officially replace Murray Henderson at the end of this season. 

Henderson took the job last season on an interim basis when long-time GM Terry Dunford gave up his duties for health reasons. Anderson has lived in Burleigh Falls for 12 years and is a car salesman in Bancroft. 

He's a volunteer with the Kawartha Komets special needs hockey team and played and coached minor hockey in Toronto prior to moving to the area. He served as Vipers' coach for one season.

Chiefs' director of hockey operations Jim Carson and the coaching staff, with head coach Tim McCormick, are responsible for player selection.

“The general manager on this team is basically the liaison between this club and the OHA office,” said Henderson. “Signing players, looking after suspension and doing a lot of the paperwork. I work with the coaches and the director of hockey operations. Once I knew Dennis knew the same people I do in the OHA and had worked with them, I felt it was going to make the transition that much easier.”

Henderson said they wanted to pick the GM before the season ended so he could teach him the ropes. Anderson has been volunteering with the club for a few weeks.

“We are working together so I can show him how we do things the Lakefield Chiefs way so he'll be ready to go for next season,” said Henderson.

Chiefs' president Don Dunford said the team's board was impressed by Anderson's personality. They liked his willingness to step in and coach the Vipers when they were stuck without a coach.

“The fact he was involved with the Kawartha Komets told us he was a person who certainly cared about people,” said Dunford.

Anderson is excited about the opportunity.

“We live in the community and we've followed the Chiefs for quite some time,” Anderson said. “The junior C brand of hockey is very exciting. When i met with Don, Jim and Murray I was quite impressed by their professionalism and the fact there is a board of directors to oversee the club.”

Anderson says he's excited to join a team that is strong on and off the ice. They clinched a ninth league title Friday.

“We intend to seek out the talent and bring the best club we can to Lakefield,” he said. “I'm very familiar with the OHA and people in it. I've worked through things like suspensions and protection of players. That's the kind of role I'll do in guiding the club.”

Anderson has a personal reason for working with the Komets.

“I have a special needs son of my own and that was extra motivation to be involved,” he said.

mike.davies@sunmedia.ca