Tim Hunter joined the WHL’s coaching ranks five years ago and saw steady improvements, even landing the top job at the helm of Team Canada at the world junior championships.
But on Monday the ex-NHL player was fired by the Moose Jaw Warriors, the team off to its worst start since 2013.
“We just feel that it’s time to turn the page and turn our team over, and look at a new direction,” Warriors general manager Alan Millar told assembled media at a press conference.
Moose Jaw is 11-22-2 this season. Hunter, a longtime NHL assistant coach, got the job with the Warriors in 2014 and went 189-134-25-8. But his teams never made it past the second round of playoffs, Canada’s juniors didn’t medal with him behind the bench in 2019 and this season the team is well out of playoff contention.
Associated coach Mark O’Leary was named Hunter’s replacement, having amassed a 24-6-4-1 record filling in for Hunter during Hockey Canada commitments the past four years.
Medicine Hat hosts Moose Jaw Friday, then the teams rematch in Moose Jaw Saturday. The Tigers won both previous head-to-head matchups in November.
Trade deadline coming
With the WHL trade deadline set for Friday, teams are already making moves.
Brett Davis, a 20-year-old centre who was traded to Kootenay two years ago from Lethbridge, is coming back to the Hurricanes in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick from Red Deer. He’d been traded to the Rebels in 2018.
Also Monday, Edmonton traded 18-year-old defenceman Aidan Lawson to Tri-City for an eighth-round selection. It’s the fourth move in a month by the Oil Kings and third in nine days between them and Tri-City. The biggest of those was a New Year’s Day swap sending the Ams Carter Gylander, Cade Littler and two draft picks for 20-year-old goalie Beck Warm and Riley Stuart.
Tonight
The Tigers are on the road in Brandon tonight, facing a Wheat Kings team that’s won its last four.
Medicine Hat will look to continue its momentum after Saturday’s home win over Seattle.
Wheat Kings netminder Jiri Patera was named the WHL’s goalie of the week Monday, following a trio of wins including two shutouts. Most notably he blanked the Prince Albert Raiders 1-0 Friday, making 29 stops.
Medicine Hat’s Ryan Chyzowski leads the league with 11 power play goals, while captain James Hamblin is now tied atop the league scoring race with Adam Beckman of Spokane (59 points).
