The GMHL will be profiling one coach per month for the duration of the season to highlight a person who is tasked with the development of the junior hockey players that join his team. Both on and off the ice these men are responsible to help produce fine young men. We will be profiling and interviewing these coaches each month to help find out who is behind the bench.

In the Inaugural season for the Bancroft Rockhounds, a rising first year coach is on board and grow and develop as the franchise does. Prior to joining the Rockhounds as Head Coach, Dubblestyne, 25, spent the past three seasons playing professional hockey in Sweden.

Before playing professional hockey, Denny had over 200 games of junior experience at various levels. Denny was a 5th Round OHL Draft Pick for the Ottawa 67's in 2010 while he was playing for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens AAA in the GTHL. He would then go on to play four seasons in the OJHL, one year in the CCHL before landing in the GMHL for his final year of juniors. 

Denny played for the Tottenham Steam in 2015-2016 for his final year of juniors, where he helped backstop the team to a Regular Season and Russell Cup Championship before signing professional in Sweden.

How does it feel to have been given your first coaching opportunity this year, especially as the first head coach in the history of the franchise?

Dubblestyne: I am really enjoying it. Coming back to the league that developed me and helped push me to pro hockey. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with this caliber of talent in a city that i grew up coming up to. I’m really enjoying it so far. I’m really hoping to bring the first Jr A championship back to Bancroft in my time here.

What kind of adjustments have you had to make going right from your playing career into coaching? Have you found ways to make it an easy transition?

Dubblestyne: Well I was very fortunate to have very experienced coaches through my career. So just how I would try to mimic some of my favourite goaltenders, i am now using some of my former coaches tools to have success through things I learned from them in my career. So I think it is very similar.

You came to the GMHL following a lengthy junior hockey  career at the time and were able to find success in the league, as a coach how are you able to use your experience with the players that are coming to play for the Bancroft franchise?

Dubblestyne: I feel having many years of junior experience definitely helps in all of the different types of tactics they used to motivate the players. I am very happy with the environment we have created in Bancroft. Having players being so close in the locker room and pushing each other every day for success is working very well for us. I know now mid-way through the season we have come a long way since the start of the year, I am hoping we can keep developing at the same rate all year so we can become a serious threat in the playoffs.

Lastly, how has the community of Bancroft accepted not only the RockHounds hockey club but you as the head coach this season?

Dubblestyne: We have received a lot of love in the city of Bancroft. Being a city where I grew up coming to with such kind people who love hockey is one of the reasons I wanted to come to Bancroft to coach. We have really been pushing community service events helping out, and I feel the city is very appreciative. I am very happy that our players have taken to Bancroft as well. Since i have been here I truly believe I have made some amazing lifelong friends, and I know I’ve made the right decision to take this team’s head coaching role.

Dubblestyne has helped lead the Rockhounds to a .500 record (11-11-0) in the first half of the season while fostering some of the league's elite young prosects. Lately Denny has helped the team reach stride winning 6 of their past 7 games. the Rockhounds are primed as a team to watch over the course of the rest of the season. Dubblestyne will continue to be evaluated based on how the season goes, but based on what has already happened it has been nothing but a success for the team and for Denny Dubblestyne.