Ryan Huska, the longtime Rockets coach, has had pro interest before, making Kelowna leery about letting Dan Lambert go. (Getty Images.)
You can start scratching more names off the list of potential Vancouver Giants’ head coaches.
The Tri-City Americans named Calgary Hitmen bench boss Mike Williamson as head coach at a press conference on Tuesday. Williamson was one of several coaches that the Giants were interested in talking to, according to scuttlebutt.
Williamson and Tri-City general manager Bob Tory know each other from their days with the Portland Winterhawks.
Giants owner Ron Toigo also brought up the idea on the weekend of looking at an up-and-coming WHL assistant coach to handle the Giants bench boss duties. The most logical name there would be Dan Lambert, an assistant with the Kelowna Rockets. Word is, though, is that Kelowna isn’t keen on him interviewing for other jobs. They’re set on him being the successor to Ryan Huska should Huska get a pro gig, and Huska, as the story goes, was on the short list last year for the Utica Comets’ job tutoring Vancouver Canucks’ prospects that went to Travis Green. Huska’s a rising star. He has Hockey Canada credentials, working with the world juniors. He’s this intriguing mix of old school and new school. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him land a pro job this summer.
Glen Hanlon has been coaching Belarus EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEV
Glen Hanlon, a former Giants assistant current coaching the Belarus men’s national team, had also been mentioned but he said last week via email that he’s already under contract. There are reports that he’s taking over the Swiss national team.
Names to ponder? Jim Hiller, who was let go by Tri-City, and Edmonton Oil Kings assistant Steve Hamilton. The Giants will also wait, too, one would think, to see how the NHL coaching jobs shake out.
Don Hay coached the Giants for the previous 10 seasons but he was let out of the last year of his contract to take a deal with the Kamloops Blazers.
