Flyers Name Mitchell Head Coach, Ridout Joins As Associate

LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO – Four former Windsor Spitfires will be manning the bench
for the Leamington Flyers this season.

The Flyers are excited to announce Dale Mitchell will lead the team as their head coach for the 2021-22 campaign. The two-time Memorial Cup champion returns to the area after playing seven years of
professional hockey in Europe, six of those years in Denmark with the Odense
Bulldogs. Mitchell scored 294 points in his Ontario Hockey League career and scored 12 points in
10 career Memorial Cup tournament games, winning the CHL’s top trophy in 2008-09
and 2009-10. He was also selected in the 3rd round, 74th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the
2007 NHL draft.

“After getting to know Dale this summer, it became obvious he would make a great head coach,” says Flyers general manager, Justin Solcz, “He brings a unique perspective to our room and is a guy the players will immediately respect.”

“I want to thank Justin and the ownership for trusting me to coach this team,” Mitchell adds. “I am extremely excited to coach and develop these young men. My philosophies are to make sure these guys love coming to the rink, working hard and getting better every day and I can’t wait to get started.”

Mitchell resides in Kingsville with his wife Jaclyn and their 3-year-old son, Benjamin.

Joining Mitchell behind the bench will be former Windsor defenseman and Flint
Firebirds Associate Coach, Mike Ridout.

The Windsor native spent four seasons with his hometown Spitfires, suiting up for 179 games and amassing 39 points and 381 penalty minutes. Following his playing career, Ridout spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Windsor Lancers, followed by two years with the OHL’s Firebirds.

“We are very fortunate to have Dale and Mark lead our program,” Solcz notes. “Both
coaches aim to be full time coaches at higher levels so we are excited to offer them the
opportunity to develop and help reach their goals.”

Assistant coaches Mike James and Matt Anthony will also return to the staff.
The Flyers’ main camp runs today and tomorrow and begin the exhibition season on
Thursday, September 9th against the Chatham Maroons.