Thunder players urge Strachan to stay

The coach is taking a request from his players.
Last week, it seemed all but certain Wayne Strachan, the former head coach of the Borderland Thunder, would turn down the local junior team’s offer to stay on as assistant coach after Dave Allison was signed to replace him.
But after receiving several calls last week from his Thunder players asking him to stay on board, Strachan just isn’t sure right now, after all.
“I’ve met with [Thunder officials] but I haven’t decided yet,” Strachan said Monday. “The team has been pretty good about it. They told me to take as much time as I need.”
He said he would “rather not say” which players called him to avoid any more potential problems.
Strachan also admitted he is exploring other job options, including a chance to coach his alma mater at Lake Superior State in Michigan.
Meanwhile, assistant coach Sean Taggart, who also met with team officials, said Monday he wasn’t sure if he’d be back next season.
Fellow assistant coaches Shane Bliss already has left the team to help with the Muskie boys’ hockey team while Neil Cooper was unavailable for comment on his future plans.
The Thunder announced the signing of Allison to a two-year contract on June 10. Strachan had agreed to return as head coach the week before but had not signed a contract.
The team’s first rookie camp will be held here late next month.