Ladysmith’s Ingram quits suddenly as coach and G.M. of the Trail Smoke Eaters
Ladysmith’s Jim Ingram informed the Trail Smoke Eaters Friday he was resigning as the B.C. Hockey League’s head coach and general manager, effective immediately.
Sunday, the Smokies announced assistant Bill Birks would be promoted after agreeing to a two-year deal.
“This all came right out of left field,’’ said team president Tom Gawryletz.
Ingram, who joined the team prior to the 2007-08 season, said it was time for a change. “This was my call,’’ he said. “It wasn’t the board wanting me out or I got pushed out.’’
Before going to Trail, Ingram coached the Kerry Park Islanders of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League to a pair of league titles. Stew Gordon, who owned the Islanders during Ingram’s tenure, recently became the majority owner of the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
For now, Ingram has no plans to relocate. “This is home for my kids,’’ he said of Trail.
— with a file from Guy Bertrand, Trail Times
