• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Women's Hockey
NWHL
Buffalo Beauts

Beauts Relieve Coaching Staff, McCormick is Interim

By Nathaniel Oliver December 8th, 2018

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

On the eve of their first home game in nearly two months, the Buffalo Beauts announced rather shockingly that both head coach Ric Seiling and assistant coach Craig Muni had been relieved of their duties. In the interim, former Buffalo Sabres forward Cody McCormick will be assuming the head coaching duties. General Manager Nik Fattey will serve as an interim assistant coach and goaltending coach Ryan Vinz will remain on the team’s coaching staff.

Cody McCormick has been named interim head coach.

General Manager, Nik Fattey, will serve as an interim assistant coach. pic.twitter.com/hhZnBs36Q0

— Buffalo Beauts (@BuffaloBeauts) December 8, 2018

McCormick posted the following message on Twitter regarding his new position with the team:

“I am so honored and excited about the opportunity to lead such a amazing group of players and most important amazing individuals. The work is just beginning and I’m ready for the challenge ahead! Go Beauts!”

The Beauts will face the Connecticut Whale on Dec. 8, 2018 at 6:00PM in their home rink at the HarborCenter. The game is being played less than 24 hours after the coaching change was announced. This is the first time that the Beauts have played at home since Oct. 13, and their first regular season game since a Nov. 18 showdown in Boston against the Pride.

Hard to Find Justification for Firing

Outwardly it is difficult to find justification for Seiling and Muni to have been let go. Seiling had been with the Beauts since the very beginning, and took them to the Isobel Cup Final each year since the NWHL’s inception. During the 2016-17 season – the first with Muni at his side – Seiling helped lead the team to their first Isobel Cup Championship. No other coach in NWHL history has made three straight appearances in the Final, and with the growth of the league, that is a difficult mark to top.

With regards to Muni, one would be hard-pressed to find a more accomplished coach in the game. With an Isobel Cup and three Stanley Cups to his credit, he always seemed to impart his own experiences of the ups and downs in becoming a winning team to the Beauts players. The tandem aspect of coaching that he and Seiling provided set the standard around the league, and was rather unique considering both men’s collective experience – it was unprecedented.

Ric Seiling Buffalo Beauts

The Buffalo Beauts announced on Dec. 7, 2018 that longtime coach Ric Seiling had been relieved of his duties with the team, as had assistant coach Craig Muni. (Photo Credit: Troy Parla).

During Seiling’s three-plus seasons with the Beauts the team compiled a record of 26-26-3-2 during the regular season. While that may seem average, it does not justify the postseason success the team always has had under his watch.

What also is difficult to fathom is that the announcement was made so close before the Beauts game against the Whale. One would have thought that the move would have come a bit earlier, if it came at all. While coaching changes are always difficult decisions to make no matter what – either from a personal or professional standpoint, or both – it will be very interesting to see how the players respond in the game and to McCormick’s new role at the helm.

A Nice Opportunity for McCormick

No matter what the sentiments may be about the release of Seiling and Muni, this is a tremendous opportunity for McCormick. During his playing days with the Sabres, he was always well-liked by the Buffalo community for his physical role on the ice and a willingness to drop the gloves. His playing style and personality represented the City of Buffalo quite well.

Though McCormick sadly had to retire prematurely due to blood clots on his lungs, he played 11 seasons in the NHL. Beginning his career with the Colorado Avalanche – the team that drafted him  144th overall in the 2001 NHL Draft – he would play the bulk of his career as a Sabre and had a brief stop with the Minnesota Wild as well. In total, McCormick played 405 regular season games in the NHL, plus 27 more in the playoffs.

At 35 years old, McCormick is much closer in age to many of the Beauts players. Both goaltender Shannon Szabados and defender Lisa Chesson are 32 years old themselves. In that respect, there may be more of a natural connection between McCormick and his new players.

Let’s Face Facts

Let’s face facts here – the Beauts still have 10 more games to play this season before it is playoff time, and the start has been less than good in some eyes. While a large number of both experts and novices surmised that Buffalo would steamroll the league due to the summer acquisitions they had made, that has not taken shape. There is a lot of talent in the NWHL, and while the Beauts are indeed a powerhouse of their own, the Boston Pride and especially the Minnesota Whitecaps have been able to stymie them.

Looking for all the teddies in the stands tonight! 👀 because it’s teddy bear toss #gameday 👊🏼👊🏼 all tossed teddies will be donated to Child and Family Services of WNY! 🐻 #hoovesup pic.twitter.com/En5SUkelW8

— Nicole Hensley (@NicHens29) December 8, 2018

Is a record of 3-3 enough cause to justify a coaching change? Perhaps. But what will be most important is for McCormick is to quickly and confidently take the reigns, and lead them solidly into 2019 and onward. The expectations on the Beauts are rather lofty, and that poses a unique challenge for both McCormick and Fattey, and for the players themselves.

  • Tags
  • Cody McCormick
  • Craig Muni
  • Ric Seiling
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 19th 7:42 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Wild Acquire Ian Cole From Avalanche for Greg Pateryn

Jan 19th 6:05 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Need to Be More Disciplined if They Want to Stay Hot

Jan 19th 5:50 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

9 Blue Jackets’ “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” Fun Facts

Jan 19th 5:40 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Babcock Bombs as Former Leafs Coach Tries to Clarify Marner Drama

Jan 19th 5:25 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Are 3-0, But Still Have Plenty of Work To Do

Jan 19th 5:15 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers News & Rumors: Essential Workers Night, DeAngelo, Trouba & More

Jan 19th 5:05 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Should Add Forward Oliver Okuliar to Prospect Pool

Jan 19th 4:55 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens: 3 Takeaways from Week 1

Jan 19th 4:45 PM
Hockey History

Top 3 Penguins Trades Under Jim Rutherford

Jan 19th 3:45 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues Weekly: Up and Down Start to the 2020-21 Campaign

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information