Longtime hockey coach and executive John Paddock, who finished his career coaching Connor Bedard with the Regina Pats the past three seasons, is retiring, the WHL team announced Monday.
Paddock, 69, joined the Pats ahead of the 2014-15 season, serving as head coach and GM from 2014-2018 and 2021-2023, as well as GM from 2018-2021.
During his tenure with the Pats, the Oak River, Man. product helped lead the Pats to the WHL final in 2017 and the Memorial Cup final in 2018.
Paddock, who has been coaching since 1983, was WHL coach of the year in 2015 and '17 and WHL executive of the year in 2017.
Bedard, after a record-setting junior career, was selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in last month's NHL Draft.
Paddock was the head coach and later the GM of the Winnipeg Jets from 1991-1995, and the GM of the Phoenix Coyotes in their inaugural 1996-97 season. He then served as both an assistant coach and head coach with the Ottawa Senators from 2005-2008.
Paddock concluded his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he was an assistant coach and assistant GM from 2009-2014.
Paddock also is a member of the AHL Hall of Fame after winning five Calder Cups, including three as a head coach. He is a former head coach of seven AHL teams.
The Pats, meanwhile, announced longtime junior hockey executive Alan Millar has been hired as vice-president, hockey operations and general manager.
