The Port Hope Predators will embark on the 2008/09 hockey season with the guidance of a new head coach.

After serving as Port Hope head coach for one season, Brian Drumm will take on a newly-created position in the Predators front office — director of player advancement and development.

“I’m excited about it,” said Drumm, who cited an increasingly demanding schedule at his full-time job at General Motors as the reason why he had to step aside as coach. “The time commitment (makes it) almost impossible to do another year (as coach). This will allow me to stay active with the club.”

With his new role, Drumm will be able to utilize his bevy of contacts in hockey — from junior and NCAA all the way to pro — to both identify and attract new Predators and assist current team members in taking the next steps in their hockey careers.

“I still have a lot to offer the team. It will give Port Hope players a better opportunity to move on,” said Drumm, of his new role. “It gives us a strong management team.”

Drumm, who also spent years behind the Cobourg Cougars bench, looks forward to pooling his knowledge and scouting resources (including his in-depth knowledge of the Greater Toronto Area) with those of Tim Clayden, the club’s returning general manager.

“It’s phenomenal,” Drumm said of teaming up with his one time adversary. “Tim’s staying for another year and I wanted to work with him.”

The new position will allow Drumm to devote more time to both his job at GM and his family, while still allowing him to keep close tabs on the club.

“I have a family — a wife, and three kids. I have to prioritize. Now I don’t have to be in Wellington on a Thursday or Friday night, or run practices at 10 p.m. I will be at some games because I want to monitor the kids. I’ll need to see them on an ongoing basis.”

Drumm’s reassignment leaves a hole behind the Port Hope bench that will be filled as soon as Clayden and team ownership complete their search for the new coach, which is expected to be done before the team’s spring training camp in May. Though he’s ready for a new challenge, Drumm will still miss the hands on element of coaching.

“Sometimes a different direction gives you more energy. Coaching is a lot of fun, and I’ve done a lot of it. Some days I’ll miss it.

“But I won’t miss the late night practices.”

Read the Wednesday, April 2, edition of the Northumberland News and watch northumberlandnews.com for more on this story.