Effective immediately Renfrew Timberwolves coach and general manager Brent Sylvester has removed the coach’s tag from his title.
Sylvester has stepped down as bench boss and replaced himself with former coach Tony Iob.
The Wolves made the announcement following an executive meeting Thursday night.
The Wolves are currently in third place in the Valley Division of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League, but at 13-15-and-2, are just one point up on the number-four seed Stittsville Royals, a team with four games in hand on Renfrew.
Iob is a familiar face to Renfrew fans.
In his first tour of duty as bench boss of the Timberwolves, he took over a team midstream, in jeopardy of missing the playoffs in the 2010-11 season.
He got them into fourth place, before the team went on a playoff roll. The Wolves knocked off the Valley Division-leading Perth Blue Wings in six opening-round playoff games after falling behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
Renfrew then captured the franchise’s 11th Valley Division title in five games over the Arnprior Packers.
The eventual EOJHL champion Clarence Creek Beavers topped the Wolves in five games in the Metro-Valley Conference final.
Last year didn’t go as well for Iob or the Wolves.
The Renfrew club finished fourth once again in 2011-12, with a 16-23-and-3 record. This time, Arnprior was up for the challenge, sweeping the Wolves in fourth straight.
Wolves president Doug Miller met with a number of Wolves players Thursday afternoon.
“These kids understand the potential of this team,” Miller said.
“They have confidence in the credentials that Tony holds.”
Wolves howlings
The stepping down of Sylvester from his coaching duties also means the expiration of the tenures of assistant coaches Jason Gould, Brent Gould and Lorenzo Comparelli.
Kip Mulvihill returns as Iob’s assistant. Iob will also be joined behind the bench by Mike Bredlaw.
Iob’s 2012-13 coaching debut will take place Saturday night. The Wolves travel to Lanark County to take on the Almonte Thunder at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the division-leading Perth Blue Wings are at the Ma-Te-Way Activity Centre. Game time is 7:30 p.m.