Labrosse takes over reins of Sudbury Spartans

The Sudbury Spartans made official, this past week, a move that had seemed likely since last summer.

Taking on an increasingly significant role in the coaching of the team in 2013, Kim "Junior" Labrosse was named as the new head coach of the Spartans for 2014, taking over from team president Gord Goddard.

"Junior has been around coaching football for nearly 30 years," said Goddard in a team-issued release. "He's been part of winning programs at every level that he has coached. Last season, Junior served as acting head coach for a few games and the tryout was successful. He is Spartan through and through."

Labrosse is at least as well known in local football circles as No. 26 for the Silver and Gold, the all-time Spartans team leader in interceptions and inducted into the Northern Football Conference Hall of Fame in 2010.

He has been a member of the Spartan community since 1987, from his time as a player to his role on the coaching staff and as a member of the club executive. Labrosse has served as vice-president since 2007 and was instrumental in bringing the Spartans back into the Northern Football Conference in time for the 2011 campaign.

Like many local coaches, Labrosse got his start in the Joe MacDonald Youth Football League, moving on to the SDSSAA high school ranks where he remains active as the head coach of the St. Benedict Bears.

He started 2013 as the Spartans' defensive co-ordinator, ascending to acting head coach toward the end of the season. Labrosse and company will kick off the 2014 training camp on April 26, with a mandatory team meeting from 4-6 p.m. at Laurentian University.

Interested players are asked to contact either Labrosse at 705-665-8426 or Goddard at 705-507-1289 for more details. Practices start on April 29 at 9:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. at James Jerome Sports Complex turf field.

Full details are also available on the Spartans Facebook Fan Page. After going winless in 2012, the Spartans improved to 2-6 last year, dropping a 59-13 decision to the Sault Steelers in the West Division semi-final.