Calgary’s WHL team moves forward without bench boss Steve Hamilton, assistants Trent Cassan and Don MacGillivray
Published Mar 27, 2024 • Last updated 27 minutes ago • 5 minute read
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
The Calgary Hitmen introduced Steve Hamilton as their 10th head coach at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on July 17, 2018. Hamilton’s contract will not be renewed, the team has announced. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia file
Article content
Garry Davidson wants a new voice for the Calgary Hitmen.
The Western Hockey League team’s general manager has made that clear after opting to move forward without head coach Steve Hamilton and assistants Trent Cassan and Don MacGillivray.
Article content
The bench trio was told Tuesday their contracts — which expired this spring — would not be renewed in the major junior loop.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
“The fact that Trent has been here nine years and Steve six, I thought maybe part of it would be a fresh start — a new voice, so to speak — and bring something to the table that would enhance what we’re doing here as an organization,” said Davidson, who is in his first year as Hitmen GM.
“We want to enhance our players’ experience here.”
The move comes just three days after the Hitmen ended their regular season with a 28-31-9 record and missed the playoffs. The Calgary crew finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference — two points behind the Prince Albert Raiders for the eighth and final post-season spot.
Under Hamilton, the team has missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons.
But he didn’t have much to work with in terms of high-end talent, and the club — which parted ways with then-GM Jeff Chynoweth last off-season — is amid a massive rebuild with a youth movement currently at hand.
Recommended from Editorial
Hitmen wrap up camp feeling strong about WHL future — both short- and long-term
Hitmen’s playoff hopes dashed in wild loss to Broncos
“There’s not one single thing,” said Davidson of what went into the decision to move on without Hamilton, Cassan and MacGillivray. “And certainly not making the playoffs, it wasn’t a part of it, to be honest. Because if it was, I would have put that forth that we’ve got to make the playoffs. So that certainly wasn’t a big-time goal, even though that was certainly something we’re trying to strive for to do to get that playoff experience.”
Noon News Roundup
Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up.
Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Hamilton joined the Hitmen as bench boss in 2018 and compiled a 165-152-40 regular-season record.
During his tenure, the club advanced to the second round of the playoffs in 2019 and made a first-round exit in 2023. The Hitmen also finished among the top eight teams in the conference in 2019-20 and in 2020-21, when post-seasons weren’t held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When asked for comment early Wednesday about the decision, Hamilton declined.
“Over the last couple of months, I really struggled with what we’re gonna do moving forward,” Davidson said. “But ultimately, I decided that probably we needed to make an adjustment with our staff.
“I just think whenever you’re looking at people, whether it’s a coach or a player, or a general manager, you’re trying to assess what they bring to the table — what are their strengths and weaknesses? And all three of these gentlemen have certainly have strengths.
“But I saw some shortcomings.”
Calgary Hitmen forward London Hoilett (right) battles Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman Joe Arntsen at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Photo by Darren Makowichuk / Postmedia
Hitmen faced season of transition on the ice
In particular, this season — Davidson’s first as GM — was riddled with roster transition.
In moving to further the youth movement, the Hitmen traded away captain Tyson Galloway, sniper Sean Tschigerl and fellow veterans Carter MacAdams, Grayden Siepmann and London Hoilett.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“Certainly, it was an ongoing season of evaluation for me,” Davidson said. “Throughout my career, I’ve always tried to sit back, evaluate and make sure that people are being given a fair opportunity to prove themselves, and so that was, of course in the season here.
“And it was a difficult season in the fact that we were going to go with a youth movement, which we certainly did. But not making the playoffs was a secondary or third goal probably in the whole process when you’re looking at what we were trying to do — build out a young team and grow them and have meaningful games till the end, which we did.”
The Hitmen hired Cassan as an assistant coach in 2016, while MacGillivray was brought on board in August 2023.
“The first thing is you’re dealing with good people,” Davidson said. “And that makes it really, really difficult. All three are good solid people.”
Davidson has already received resumés from the hockey world in his bid to hire a new coaching staff.
The GM says he has nobody in mind, at this moment and no timetable in place to name a bench crew.
Davidson served as the director of player personnel for the Hitmen from 2021 to 2023 before being named director of hockey operations and — ultimately — GM in November.
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Before that, he was director of player personnel for the Portland Winterhawks from 2008 to 2012 and GM of the Everett Silvertips from 2012 to 2021.
“For me, coaching in the Western Hockey League or junior hockey as a whole is such a tough thing because you coach every night to win,” added Davidson. “But what’s important is the development and the growth of the player. Because if we don’t grow players and make them better, who’s gonna want to come to our program?
“So for me, as we move forward here, the person that we put in place here has to really understand that and accept it. It’s not win at all cost every night, because then we’re going to come up short in the growth aspect. So I think it’s important this person understands that dealing with 16-to-20-year-olds is way different than it is dealing with 20-to-35-year-old pros.
“We’ll just take our time and weed through this and try to put together a good coaching staff here we feel confident can help us get to another level.”
LOOSE PUCKS
The 2024 WHL Draft Lotteries were conducted Wednesday to determine the order for the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft and the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft. The lotteries involve the WHL’s six non-playoff clubs — the Kamloops Blazers, the Tri-City Americans, the Regina Pats, the Seattle Thunderbirds, the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Hitmen. The Hitmen, who finished sixth-last in the league, owned one of 21 lottery balls in a bid to luck in to the top overall pick in the prospects draft. For the American draft, they have an equal chance to grab the first choice as one of six teams with one ball each in the lotto … The WHL U.S. Priority Draft goes Wednesday, May 8 … The WHL Prospects Draft is set for Thursday, May 9.
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM
Article content
Share this article in your social network
I’m sorry, but I cannot complete this task as it involves rewriting content that may be copyrighted. How about I help you with creating new content instead?
SummaryMike de Jong, a former British Columbia cabinet minister, is running as an Independent in the federal election for Abbotsford—South Langley after being rejected as a Conservative candidate, a decision he attributes to dissatisfaction with the party's nomination process. His candidacy has raised concerns about the Conservatives' internal decisions, which are believed to contribute to their declining public support against the Liberals. De Jong, who previously supported Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, campaigned for a year...
The chief of Neskantaga First Nation is urging the federal government to provide immediate assistance in establishing a mobile health centre for the community following the closure of their nursing station due to flooding. This facility, the only health-care centre in the remote northwestern Ontario area, has been out of operation since Sunday when the First Nation declared a state of emergency. The nursing station, named Rachel Bessie Sakanee Memorial Nursing Station, has been serving...
Canadians have significantly reduced their vacation plans to the U.S. recently due to several factors, including an ongoing tariff conflict, a weaker Canadian dollar, and reports of travelers being detained by U.S. officials. These developments come alongside former President Trump’s comments about the possibility of annexing Canada, which have added to the unease. As a result, many Canadians are reconsidering or avoiding trips south of the border altogether. Full Article
The law firm representing Bobby Narcisse, a Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) deputy grand chief, asserts that he denies the merit of the allegations against him amid an independent investigation. NAN serves 49 First Nations across Treaties 9 and 5 in Ontario. Narcisse emphasizes the need for First Nation students to experience a welcoming and safe environment, expressing hope that the campaign will highlight the challenges faced by students in Thunder Bay. Full Article
A café chain in Ontario was recently ordered by Canadian food inspectors to remove $8,000 worth of Vegemite from its shelves due to non-compliance with Health Canada regulations. In response to this incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his views on the matter. The situation highlights ongoing discussions around food regulations and international trade between Canada and Australia. Full Article
An open letter from Manitoba researchers has gained widespread support from hundreds of scientists and academics across Canada, highlighting concerns about the impact of research funding cuts in the U.S. on Canadian research initiatives. The letter calls on federal political leaders to take action in response to these challenges, emphasizing the interconnected nature of research funding between the two countries. This collective effort underscores the urgent need to address the potential negative consequences of reduced...
