Much will be written and broadcast over the next few days about the changes with the Peterborough Petes management, which came as a shock to most—even to those who were most vocal (in the negative sense) about the team this year. The call was for a major change, but I guess few believed it would happen.
It did.
My colleague at the Peterborough Examiner, Mike Davies authored an enlightened and expert article in the electronic issue of the Examiner today, which will be in the print edition tomorrow. I won’t attempt to comment further on the situation, deferring to Mike’s expert witness.
However, I’d like to say that in the 15 years or so that I have been with the Petes organization, I have found Jeff Twohey to be professional to a fault, considerate and co-operative. He’s been patient with me as I learned the craft of PA announcing (still learning) and ultimately played a part in my own role as a part of this city’s hockey fabric on Thursday nights. My only complaint is that in some ways Jeff has a tendency to micro-manage. But in the end, such a trait is demonstrative of someone who cares so much about every aspect of the product, and is so in tune with his role, that he has to be involved some way in everything.
That’s a laudable trait, but it can be exhausting.
Much has been written about the fans’ displeasure with the fortunes of the team of late—fans who have taken their frustrations out—audibly—on the management, the coaches and even the players themselves, towards the end of that dismal 10-game losing streak. But of course, fans will be fans. They’re looking for a winning season and so too is the Petes organization, which is a business and in wanting to put more bums in seats, and more seasons ticket sales in the pipeline, realize that beyond the stuff that goes on between periods, at the end of the day the fans want to see competitive hockey. In their view it didn’t happen this season and they weren’t happy.
Today, senior management paid the price. Jeff is gone, and the coaches may not be back. Mike Davies made the point in his column today that firings are a fact of life in hockey. Some mighty fine individuals have made that long walk down the corridor after cleaning out his desk. And Jeff, in particular has had a long run.
But as angry as the fans have been about the team, and the verbal abuse that Jeff has taken, no one can know what it has been like to walk in his shoes these last four years. Or now. Yes, the fans are frustrated.
But one can imagine the frustration of Jeff, Ken, Ryan and Joe. And especially Jeff, as he has been here the longest. Why do injuries happen? Why do you get the bounces one night, and not the next? Why do players play with passion one night, and not the next? Questions that will never be answered.
But they tried. And Jeff Twohey can hold his head up high for working so bloody hard, day in and day out, for 28 years (and 17 as GM). Disagree with his draft picks, or some of the decisions he has made. What he tried, in the end, didn’t work. But all must agree on his passion, his work ethic, his commitment and dedication to the team.
Traits he will take to his next job. And he will have no trouble landing a gig, such is his respect in the hockey world.
The Petes Board of Directors has made its decision. Not an easy one, I can assure you. More decisions will need to follow. And then the fans will have to wait and see if this move was inspired, or misguided.
As we move forward, Jeff moves on. Time for the cat calls to come to an end. We should thank him for the long contribution he has made to the history of the Petes organization.
I do.