Motor City Rockers hire former Mechanics head coach as frontman

FRASER — Big Boy Arena is welcoming back a head coach familiar with the Fraser area.

The Motor City Rockers, who compete in the Federal Prospects Hockey League, announced the hiring of former Motor City Mechanics head coach Steve Shannon. The FPHL is a single A minor professional hockey team.

The decision comes after the team announced the resignation of inaugural head coach Gordie Brown, who led the team to the division finals last season.

The Rockers said Brown’s resignation stems from his journey on an “exciting new career opportunity.”

“First and foremost, we wish Gordie (Brown) the best of luck in his new endeavors, this organization will always be grateful for the commitment and the groundwork he has laid out,” team President Scott Brand said in a press release. “We are very happy he will be able to spend more time with his family and his new opportunity will put him and them in a better position.”

Many remember Shannon from his 2004-2005 tenure with the Mechanics, who signed a slew of National Hockey League players such as Kris Draper, Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher, Sean Avery and Bryan Smolinski during the NHL’s lockout. 

Shannon brings 48 years of coaching experience, with his last stop at the Port Huron Fighting Falcons of the North American Hockey League from 2012-2013. Shannon has lived in Florida and Texas for the last nine years before moving back to Michigan a year and a half ago.

“The Rockers are incredibly fortunate to have a head coach with Steve’s background and connections in the hockey world, particularly here in the Greater Detroit Area and the Midwest,” Brand said. “Steve is going to bring honest, hard-nosed hockey to Big Boy Arena and will continue to build on our team's winning tradition. Steve knows the game, understands what it takes to win at this level, as it’s important to our organization. He will make the players better; he develops hockey players and young men.”

Shannon said he’s watched the Rockers in person a handful of times since the team was founded, and said fans can expect a different style of play this season.

“I’m going to put some systems in that they haven’t had since the inception,” Shannon said. “We’re going to play a little differently and we’re going to be tough on the puck. We’re going to do what we do and play my style of hockey.”

The Rockers held its first team practice Oct. 9 and are slated to begin the season Oct. 12 when they host the Port Huron Prowlers at Big Boy Arena in Fraser.

Shannon said he has access to watch games from past seasons to scout FPHL opponents, but said he’s more focused on his team.

“I’m not so inclined to do that at this point because we have to take care of ourselves first,” Shannon said. “We have to worry about what we’re going to do and then we’ll worry about what they’re doing after.”

Call Staff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak at (586) 498-1090.