FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2022
Burlington Chiefs Jr. A Lacrosse Club
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
burlingtonchiefs.com
pr@burlingtonchiefs.com
ANNOUNCEMENT: GILLIES NAMED BURLINGTON CHIEFS GENERAL MANAGER
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO – The Burlington Chiefs Junior A Lacrosse Club announced today that the club has named Sean Gillies as the team’s new General Manager. Gillies has been a coach with the organization for the last four seasons, helping the Chiefs secure the 1st overall seed in the 2018 regular season and make a trip to the Ontario Final the following year in 2019.
Gillies began coaching at the junior level in 2016 with the Oakville Buzz, coaching alongside current Chiefs head coach and lifelong teammate Dan MacRae. Together, they led the team to the conference finals. The following season, MacRae and Gillies were offered the bench in Burlington under former GM Ken Gillies. MacRae and Gillies grew up playing minor and started junior lacrosse together in Oakville. They also attended the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) together, playing for the RIT Tigers with fellow Chiefs coaches Alex Crepinsek and MJ Kiekebelt.
“I am honored to have been given this opportunity in a league that is regarded as the best junior lacrosse league in the world,” said Gillies. “I am very fortunate to have a great board and coaching staff that have many years of experience in both pro and junior at a player and executive level—many of whom are former teammates and coaches of mine. While we have had a lot of success in the last four seasons reaching milestones the club has not achieved before, we will continue to push until we win the Minto Cup. It was a privilege to coach under my dad as the GM with the Chiefs. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor and know have large shoes to fill. I hope to continue the success and principles he instilled in the organization and will strive to finish what he started.”
Gillies is a Burlington resident and is also the current head coach of the Toronto Monarchs in the Arena Lacrosse League (ALL).
The club has also named Mike Quackenbush as the team’s new Assistant General Manager. Mike has been a part of the Chiefs organization since 2016 managing the front of house for game day operations. Behind the scenes, Mike has helped with the annual Chiefs Alumni Golf Tournament, coordinated volunteers, and handled team and league administration.
“The Chiefs organization has been such a valuable place to have dedicated my time and effort over the last number of years. For many years I have been involved in coordinating athletic teams and events, while always feeling the deep community impact that service provides. The organization’s leadership, especially through the pandemic, has been remarkable. I am looking forward to working alongside Sean Gillies in his new role as GM, and with our talented coaching staff as we begin planning the 2022 season.” – Mike Quackenbush
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If you would like more information, please email pr@burlingtonchiefs.com.