Molleken, Struch out as Saskatoon Blades look for new direction

SASKATOON – A disappointing season for the Saskatoon Blades has lead to changes in the club’s operation staff.

The club announced on Tuesday it had parted ways with general manager Lorne Molleken but he will stay on with the team to guide them through the transition period.

The Blades also announced the contract of head coach Dave Struch will not be renewed.

It was earlier announced Curtis Leschyshyn would not be back after spending the last two years with the Blades. Leschyshyn will be coaching the Saskatoon Blazers next year.

In a release, the club said it is “embarking on a course that will change the face of the franchise” and has started searching for candidates “with a rich experience in the game and a tradition of winning.”

The Blades finished the season with a 16-51-2-3 record, second worse in the Eastern Conference and third worse in the WHL. The record was also the second-worst in team history.

Last week, the Blades won the lottery draft for the first over-all pick in the 2014 bantam draft but the pick will go to the Brandon Wheat Kings after Brenden Walker was traded to the Blades in May 2012.