TRAVERSE CITY -- The Bay Area Reps have a new coach, and it's one who is no stranger to hockey in Northern Michigan.
After years of coaching in the Grand Traverse Hockey Association, Todd Spaulding will move over to lead the Reps this winter.
"It's exciting" Spaulding said of the new job. "It's something new for me and I'm looking forward to it."
Spaulding takes over for Scott Gardiner, who left the area.
"This is a great fit for us," Traverse City St. Francis athletic director Tom Hardy said. "All five schools in the co-op were represented in the interviews and we are very fortuante to get Todd on staff.
"He brings consistency because he's coached many of these kids. And, he's a Traverse City hockey guy."
Spaulding has coached the Bantam AA junior team -- consisting of 13- and 14-year-olds -- for 18 years. He also spent a number of years as an assistant for Chris Givens at Traverse City Central.
"I know quite a few of the kids who played for the Reps last year, so that definitely helps," Spaulding said.
A Saginaw native, Spaulding moved to Traverse City for his senior year of high school and graduated from Central in 1984. Besides his involvement with junior hockey, he also serves as Vice President of travel for the Grand Traverse Hockey Association.
Hardy said about a half-dozen candidates applied for the open position and two people were interviewed.
"Everyone on the committee was very excited to get Todd and what he can bring to the program," Hardy said.
Now, Spaulding takes over a Reps team consisting of players from Kalkaska, St. Francis, Elk Rapids, Suttons Bay and Mancelona.
"My Bantam AA team has kids from Gaylord, Mancelona, Cadillac... all over the place," Spaulding said. "That's been the case for a number of years."
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