well, f*ck ***UPDATED***

I've been trying to be better about not using the f-bomb to make this blog a little more reader-friendly, even though I normally swear like a sailor.  I know, it's not an attractive trait, but I can't seem to break the habit.  

I hate it when I'm right.  No I don't.  But I hate hate HATE that I was right about this one.  Drinnan reports:

Don Nachbaur, who resigned Tuesday after one season as head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators, is expected to be named the next head coach of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs.
Two sources told The Daily News on Tuesday that Nachbaur left Binghamton, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, in order to become the Chiefs’ head coach.
"It is a difficult day for me as I step down as the head coach of the Binghamton Senators,” Nachbaur said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision for me, but it is based on personal reasons and I think it is the right choice for both myself and my family."
Nachbaur resigned last summer after five seasons as head coach of the Tri-City Americans and signed with Ottawa. Binghamton went 36-35-6-3 with Nachbaur at the helm, but didn’t make the playoffs.
Nachbaur was a fan-favourite in Tri-City as the Americans had unprecedented success with him as head coach. His run finished with back-to-back U.S. Division pennants.
The Chiefs and Americans have a tremendous rivalry that is about to get even hotter.
While Nachbaur moved to Binghamton, his family stayed in Richland, Wash. In fact, his son, Daniel, played for the bantam Spokane Jr. Chiefs, one of the teams that played in the 42nd annual KIBIHT.
With Spokane, Nachbaur will replace Hardy Sauter, who lost his job after last season when the club chose not to exercise an option.  (Taking Note)

So there it is, worst fears confirmed*.  

Look, I have faith in Jim Hiller and Terry Virtue.  I really do.  But Nachbaur is an excellent coach.  And now he's in the division, playing for the goddamn rival Chiefs.  I don't have the rabid hatred for the Chiefs like some do, but I still don't like 'em.  At all.**

Gotta hope that the Chiefs scouting is crappy.  But Don can effectively coach crappy players.  Hell, he got Jason Beeman to be somewhat productive.

And, as Drinnan mentioned, Nachbaur's family had stayed in Tri-Cities while he was in Binghamton, that had to be difficult.  Probably even more difficult than the B-Sens shitty season.  As someone who is in a long-distance relationship, I know how much it sucks.  And we're not even married, nor do we have kids.*** This will allow him to be back together with his family.  It will also allow him to continue being an awesome coach at the junior level.  It's just too bad it's against my team.

My other freakout about this whole thing is whether or not I keep the name of the blog.  It's a Don Nachbaur saying.  I don't want to change it, I like it, it's unique.  But now that he's associated with the Chiefs...I dunno, seems like it might be awkward to keep it there.

Later today, I'll finish up player recaps, just have Sutherland left.  Then I'm off tomorrow for the NHL Entry Draft in LA!

***UPDATE***

Over at DubNation, I found this tidbit:

Today, Dave Trimmer of the Spokesman Review in Spokane reports that the Chiefs say that Tuesday's news report was premature. For those who've never read Trimmer's material before, do yourself a favour and hunt up some of his articles, regardless of what sport it is. In two words, wonderful writer. More on today's Chiefs story here.

Premature or incorrect, Nachbaur would be a wonderful hire by the Chiefs. His coaching record is stellar and, simply put, the man knows how to coach.

So I checked out the article:

Spokane Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz denied reports that former Tri-City Americans coach Don Nachbaur is the new coach of the Western Hockey League team.

The Kamloops Daily News, citing two sources, said Nachbaur is all but signed to replace Hardy Sauter.
“It could be right but it’s not now,” Speltz said this morning. “We do not have a deal done with Don Nachbaur.
“I talked to Don yesterday. By all means, he’s a candidate for sure. He’s in Vegas, we talked, we’re going to talk. He’s a valid candidate, a very accomplished coach.”


“There will be nothing done this week for sure,” said Speltz, who has had former Spokane assistant and recently fired Edmonton head coach Steve Pleau in for an interview.


“It’s safe to say I’m not done with the process now but I consider him a strong candidate,” Speltz said. “It’s not like I have to do a lot of checking, I know him pretty well.

“I’m going to say I think Don is still interested in coaching junior from my talk yesterday. He didn’t say he was interested in Spokane but I think he is. He said he just needed a little bit of time to regroup.”

So we're safe...for now.

 
*not true, my worst fears are cancer, Alzheimer's, and I have an irrational fear of bridges and tunnels--that they will collapse while I'm in/on them.

**I dislike the organization because they're rivals.  But the rivalry brings out the worst in fans on both sides which I really fucking hate.  Sorry about the f-bomb there, but it was needed.

***together, he has a super adorable daughter.  Srsly, she's cute as hell.