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| Steve "Chugger" Dietrich (left) has had a huge impact in the lacrosse world. Here he poses beside his National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame plaque. |
It was only a
matter of time once the announcement came that Major Series
Lacrosse's Kodiaks were moving from Kitchener-Waterloo to Cobourg,
but it was still a sad day for the franchise when Steve “Chugger”
Dietrich officially resigned as the team's head coach and general
manager this week.
“When
I told Chugger about the plan to relocate the Kodiaks to Cobourg he
committed to staying on until the Cobourg management team could find
his replacement,” said Al
Orth,
who owned the team from the time it was founded as a Sr B club in KW
in 2003 until he sold the majority interest in it to a Cobourg trio.
“I reluctantly accepted his resignation fully understanding that
being GM and Coach of a team 200 kilometres from home was
impractical.”
Dietrich had also
been associated with the Kodiaks since the team was created. “As
a goaltender he led the team to a Presidents’ Cup National
Championship in 2003 and again in 2005 when he backstopped the team
through a perfect 14 and 0 postseason, including limiting B.C. to a
mere three goals in the gold medal game,” Orth says.
In
fact, Dietrich played a huge role in the team even before it existed.
“My mother and Al Orth had talked about a Sr lacrosse team for a
couple years prior to the Kodiaks coming into existence as they both
wanted a place for there sons to play at home,” Dietrich said.
Sadly
for Dietrich and the KW lacrosse community, his mother never got to
see her dream realized. Ruth Dietrich died of cancer on Christmas day
2002.
“Obviously
my most favourite memory is being able to live out my mother's dream
and play senior lacrosse in our home town and then of course winning
the presidents cup at home in 2005,” Steve Dietrich adds.
“Chugger
has been the cornerstone of the franchise from its inception,” Orth
says. “His contribution as GM and Head Coach cannot be overstated.
He has a lot to be proud of, most importantly he should be proud of
the key role he played in making his mother's dream of establishing a
Senior team in KW come true.“
Over
the years, Orth says, Dietrich became more than an outstanding
player, coach and GM. “He has also been a loyal and valued friend.
On behalf of myself and co-owner Mark Haskins I want to thank Chugger
for his commitment, dedication and outstanding contribution to the
Kodiaks.”
