The La Ronge Ice Wolves say 24 candidates have applied for their vacant head coach and general manager position.

Team president Terry Helary says the list includes interim head coach and GM Ron Holloway, who was former head coach Bob Beatty’s assistant the past couple of seasons.

Beatty resigned as the Wolves’ coach almost immediately after the team’s season ended last month in order to take on a similar position with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Helary says applications have come in from all over North America, and include people with Junior ‘A’, Western Hockey League or college coaching experience.

He also believes Beatty’s recent ability to put together back-to-back championship teams in La Ronge has drawn a better slate of candidates than what would have applied in previous years:

“I do think it’s helped with the quality of the applications that we’ve had come in.  People know that we’ve got a good program here, and are wanting to get on and be part of the future.”

Helary says the ability to recruit players is a major quality the team is looking for, as well as being a good teacher.

He says they hope to shortlist the applications by next week, and have a new coach and GM in place by the middle of April.