The Calgary Roughnecks this morning relieved Kevin Melnyk of his duties as coach and general manager, replacing him by early afternoon with Victoria Shamrocks skipper Chris Hall.

Hall takes over behind the bench, while Roughnecks owner Brad Banister will assume the role of general manager on an interim basis.

"[We are] extremely pleased with the appointment of Chris Hall, who will be a strong leader and role model for our talented athletes," Banister said. "The Roughnecks welcome Chris and his family to Calgary. We look forward to a successful inaugural season."

Hall returned as head coach of the Shamrocks this summer, after sending 1999 as co-coach and 2000 as an assistant coach. He also coached the Shamrocks from 1983 to 1989, and played for them from 1972 to 1973 and from 1976 to 1982. In 1975, Hall played for the Boston Bolts of a previous National Lacrosse League.

In his stints as Victoria's coach, Hall won two Mann Cups and took the Shamrocks to the national championship round on two other occasions. This past season, he led the team to a 19-0-1 record in regular season play, the first undefeated campaign in Western Lacrosse Association history. Hall is also an accomplished field lacrosse player and coach.

No official reason was given for Melnyk's dismissal. However, the cause of the separation isn't hard to sniff out. Melnyk had been under intense public criticism recently, both for embellishing claims about his credentials and for running the Roughnecks' recent open tryout in a haphazard manner.

Melnyk allegedly claimed that he played several seasons for the Coquitlam Adanacs of the Western Lacrosse Association, that he later coached the Adanacs, and that he represented Canada at the 1986 World Lacrosse Championships. Records indicate that the latter two claims are false and that his Adanacs career spanned just three games.

Melnyk also had been hammered for how he conducting the recent tryout camp. Both spectators and players who tried out have reported that water and trainers were not available, that injured players were neglected, that team-issued equipment was inadaquate for a professional camp, and that Melnyk's understanding of lacrosse was meager at best.

However, the main issue that led to Melnyk's axing was a complete dereliction of his duties. He did not keep Banister apprised of trade discussions, and reportedly cut off negotiations with the Toronto Rock (for Kaleb Toth) immediately after Rock coach/GM Les Bartley's initial offer. Failing to acquire Toth may have been the last straw in Banister's eyes, although he has reopened trade talks and a deal could be close.