Rams closing in on a new hockey coach

Bangor Superintendent of Schools Sandy Ervin didn’t nominate anybody for Bangor High School’s head hockey coaching job at the Monday night school committee meeting but said he will do so in two weeks.

Two of the rumored finalists are former University of Maine players Greg Hirsch and Dan Kerluke.

Ervin wouldn’t comment on the rumor but did say, “we have three or four solid candidates.

“I need a few more weeks to do more research on the candidates,” said Ervin.

The new coach will replace Bill Schwarz, who had been at the helm for the last six seasons. Schwarz’s contract wasn’t renewed by Ervin.

Hirsch has been the head coach at Orono High, where he has compiled a 112-39 record in seven seasons. His teams have won 99 of their last 111 games.

Kerluke graduated from Maine in 2001 after registering 54 goals and 54 assists in 152 career games. He was an assistant captain during the 2000-2001 season.

This past season, Kerluke played for the Idaho Steelheads and Fresno Falcons in the West Coast Hockey League and had 11 goals and 16 assists in 63 regular season games between them and a goal and two assists in 10 playoff games for Fresno.

Ervin said he would also like to nominate an assistant coach at the same time to work in tandem with the head coach.