Almost a third of the CHL’s 60 teams have a new coach behind the bench this season. And if you include three who were hired midway through 2015-16, 23 major junior bench bosses are in their first full campaigns.
But of all of the newbies, who is in the best position to succeed?
10. Ryan Oulahen, Flint Firebirds
On one hand, this could be the toughest job in the entire CHL. But on the other, how could things be any worse than they were a year ago? Oulahen spent six years working alongside the OHL’s longest-tenured coach—Stan Butler in Brampton/North Bay. Butler’s teams have always been great at playing a defence-first, pro-style while sending numerous players to the NHL. Oulahen played in the OHL and has also been a part of Hockey Canada’s U-17 program. He brings an acute knowledge of the game and a youthful attitude in his first stint as a head coach. What should make his job more secure and a bit easier is the support he’ll get from the OHL, which essentially appointed him to this post.
9. Richard Matvichuk, Prince George Cougars
General manager Todd Harkins has done an amazing job in the WHL’s toughest market. When new owners took over the club prior to 2014-15, an emphasis on creating a pro environment became the franchise’s top priority. Modifications to the dressing room, team travel and off-ice support are three areas Harkins addressed during his first two seasons at the helm. His latest move is the hiring of former NHLer Matvichuk. All of the obstacles that once stood in the way of Prince George attracting top-end talent are no longer. Matvichuk will be given every resource available to him to bring the Cougars back to prominence.
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8. Jim Hulton, Charlottetown Islanders
Hulton should be a calming influence for a franchise that has changed owners, logos, its team name and, most recently, GMs. He was brought on by former GM Grant Sonier in a move that was outside the normal QMJHL coaching carousel, and had GM title added to his duties in the off-season. Hulton has worked all over the map and is well connected—he’s also learned plenty about his coaching style along the way. As an franchise in a small market, it was essential to have one person in the dual role, and Hulton should be given plenty of rope in this organizational restructuring.
7. Louis Robitaille, Victoriaville Tigres
Robitaille spent the past five years as an assistant in Drummondville and Val-d’Or, soaking up lessons on both sides of the puck from the likes of Mario Duhamel, Martin Ryamond and Mario Durocher. The Tigres feature plenty of talent, led by Philadelphia second-rounder Pascal Laberge, top-10 rated prospect Max Comtois and overager Alexandre Goulet. Because Robitaille was hired so late in the summer (July 28), he hasn’t had much time to be overwhelmed by his first big gig as head coach and expectations should be lowered because of how late he joined the organization.
6. Jon Gruden, Hamilton Bulldogs
Gruden was thrown to the wolves in Flint, hired and fired like Billy Martin. But Hamilton owner Mike Andlauer and president Steve Staios believe in giving their players every opportunity to succeed. The Bulldogs have a big league arena, dressing room and workout facilities. Removing all the noise from the old job and given the support necessary to succeed, the responsibility is now on Gruden to prove his coaching ability in a situation where all he has to do is worry about the on-ice product, without resources ever being an issue.
5. Dominque Ducharme, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Ducharme had great success as the bench boss in Halifax, culminating in a 2013 Memorial Cup title. With a young family, he felt being closer to home was key, so when the Volts came calling—and added the GM title—it became a no-brainer for one of the league’s brightest up-and-coming coaches. Resources have never been an excuse in Drummondville, and the recent success of players like Ondrej Palat, Sean Couturier and Derrick Brassard are proof of that. Add the proximity to Montreal and Drummondville remains a desired QMJHL market.
4. James Richmond, Mississauga Steelheads
Richmond inherited a team poised to be among the best in the OHL, in a season where the league is also hosting the MasterCard Memorial Cup. Having worked as an assistant to James Boyd in 2015-16, there should be instant harmony between the GM and coach—Boyd gave up the coach’s title to focus on his work as the GM during the summer. Richmond has a wonderful eye for the game and spent parts of the past few years working as a skills coach for the L.A. Kings. Add to that a penchant for analytics and, voila, you have a perfect recipe for success.
3. Andre Tourigny, Halifax Moosheads
Tourigny ran the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for 10 years, making the playoffs in all but one season. On three occasions Rouyn-Noranda made it to the third round under his guidance as coach and GM. He now gets to try his hand focused solely on running the bench witha Halifax franchise that has great ownership and a GM in Cam Russell who continues to draft trade and recruit talent from all over the map. This stint follows three seasons as an NHL Assistant, most recently working next to Dave Cameron in Ottawa. If you could handpick a job in the QMJHL, this would be it.
2. Mike Johnston, Portland Winterhawks
Johnston will work in the same job for the same owner that he did from 2008 to 2014 after Bill Gallacher bought the Winterhawks. He has plenty of NHL experience—most recently as the Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss some 10 months ago—and is in a comfortable place where he’s had a ton of previous success. That familiarity should allow Johnston to be highly successful in this environment with the dual role of coach and GM.
1. Jason Smith, Kelowna Rockets
Smith inherits a talented team with a winning culture and and owner/GM in Bruce Hamilton who settles for nothing less than perfection. Two of Kelowna’s previous three head coaches (Dan Lambert and Ryan Huska) have moved on to the AHL in head coaching roles and having been let-go as an assistant with the Ottawa Senators, Smith is the absolute perfect fit. Kelowna has long been the best team in the CHL at producing top-end NHL defenceman, and that shouldn’t change under Smith, a stalwart on the blueline during his 1,008-game NHL career.
