Ramblers have a new president.

The Amherst CIBC Wood Gundy Ramblers have a new president.

Longtime volunteer Ron Lake was elected the team’s president during the annual general meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 12. He replaces outgoing president Gary Brown, who chose not to re-offer for the position.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gary for his service to the hockey club,” Lake said.

“The past few years have been very busy ones for our franchise, with the Fred Page Cup last season, and we were very fortunate to have Gary at the helm as our president.”

Joining Lake on the executive are first vice-president Bill Chapman, second vice-president Gary Boudreau, treasurer Allan Chapman and secretary Cindy Hicks. As past-president, Brown will remain with the executive as a director. He is joined by directors Walter Maltby, Muriel Morrison, Allison Landry, Bruce Sangster, Sharlene Carter-Earle, Mike

Fullerton, Eric Black, Kevin Duguay and Jason Dickie.

In his report, Brown thanked everyone for coming to the annual general meeting and spoke of his belief that the team is peaking at the right time.

He said the decision to hire Doug Doull as head coach last year was a good one and he is please both he and general manager Jeff LeBlanc have been renewed for three years.

In his report, the general manager said “we have done an amazing job filling in the pieces after the Fred Page Cup year” and gave the credit to Doull, saying every team he touches succeeds.

LeBlanc said the decision was made last Christmas to get better while staying younger, adding that was accomplished through what he feels was the team’s most successful trading deadline

ever. After that, the team finished with a record of 30-21-1, only one point out of first place in the division. He said the playoff cancellation, although disappointing, was understandable with the

COVID-19 situation.

The team has two returning goalies, five defencemen (plus three midget players) and eight forwards (plus four from the draft).

Coach Doull said he had a great year adjusting to the team. Felt the team improved as the year went on, which was his goal from the start. The strong finish was gratifying and he had high

hopes for the playoffs.

Doull has met face to face with the core returning players and everyone is excited to get started.

Final details are still being put together, but hopes are to open training camp on Sept. 10 with the regular season beginning Oct. 1.