A new leader has emerged to take over as head coach of Missisisppi’s lone professional hockey team.
Dustin Skinner has been hired as the Mississippi Sea Wolves’ frontman following active CEO Joe Pace, Jr.’s resignation from the head coaching position last week. Pace, who was also a player for the Sea Wolves, removed himself from the roster.
Pace will now remain in his administrative role. He and team owner Barry Soskin came to a consensus that Skinner was the right man to direct the team during practices and games.
“This is a great move for our organization having a full-time head coach behind the bench is gonna be needed, going into a playoff push. The time that Dustin is going to be putting in with the team is definitely time I could not offer. From extra video sessions to extra time on the ice with individual players, pre-scouting teams, and assessing individual game plans against different opponents,” Pace said.
“I’m happy to say this was the right move for the Sea Wolves organization today. This is going to allow me to focus more on family and the front office and the major role I have there with the team as the CEO.”
Skinner, an Andover, Minn. native, played a total of nine seasons in the Federal Hockey League with a range of teams including the Danville Dashers, Port Huron Prowlers, Vermont Wild, Watertown Privateers, Cape and Cod Barons.
He most recently served as the assistant coach of the Odessa Jackalopes in the North American Hockey League.
“We have a great group of guys that are here to work and get better and be a championship-caliber team. I’m excited with the group so far and it’s been one practice,” Skinner said, later mentioning the style of play he plans to incorporate for his team. “The style I want to play is a hard, fast, quick transitioning hockey. A team that makes it hard for opposing teams to want to keep up or make it hard for them to keep up. I’m excited to get things moving with the group we have here.”
The Sea Wolves currently rank fourth in the FPHL’s Continental Division. Skinner will have the chance to help lead the team to victory following a three-game losing streak on Friday when the Carolina Thunderbirds visit the Mississippi Gulf Coliseum in Biloxi.
