Struggling clubs tend to be the ones to fire head coaches, but the Oshawa Generals aren't following the traditional playbook.
The Generals, who sit first in the OHL's East Division, fired head coach Steve O'Rourke on Monday and named assistant coach Brad Malone as interim coach.
The Generals announced the decision in a three-paragraph press release. The final paragraph thanked O'Rourke "for his dedication and commitment to our organization."
While the Generals lost 6-1 against the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday in their most recent game, they knocked off OHL-leading London 5-3 a night earlier, snapping the Knights' 19-game win streak in the process.
O'Rourke, previously an assistant with the team, was named head coach this past summer after Derek Laxdal took the head coaching job with the Seattle Kraken's AHL affiliate. The Generals advanced to the OHL final last season before losing to the Knights.
The Generals are 18-10-1-1 this season and have a loaded roster, featuring four first-round NHL Draft picks.
Malone, 35, retired as a player after his second season with the Edmonton Oilers' AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, Calif. last season. The native of Miramichi, N.B. played 217 career NHL games.
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