Big Shoes To Fill

It took a while, but Hockey Canada wanted to get the right person to take on the position recently vacated by Bob Nicholson, now with the Oilers organization.

The Hockey Canada Board of Directors officially announced that Cranbrook’s Tom Renney has been named the organization’s new president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.

As Hockey Canada’s president and CEO, Renney will oversee all elements of the organization, including hockey development programs, high performance programs, corporate sales, events and marketing, licensing, insurance and regulations, membership services, operations and communications.

Renney, 59, comes to Hockey Canada with a wealth of hockey experience at both the international and professional levels.

He served as vice-president of hockey operations with Hockey Canada from 1997-99, also coaching Canada to a silver medal at the 1999 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The native of Cranbrook, B.C., also served as head coach with Canada’s National Men’s Team from 1992-94, capturing a silver medal at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway.

An associate coach with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings in 2013-14, Renney also served as a head coach with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers from 2010-12, New York Rangers from 2004-08 and Vancouver Canucks in 1996-97.

During his NHL coaching career, Renney continued to maintain ties to the national program, serving as an assistant coach at both the 2004 and 2005 IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal (2004) and silver medal (2005).

Prior to coaching at the national and professional levels, Renney was the head coach of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers from 1990-92, leading the team to a 101-37-6 record.

His .714 winning percentage ranks as the all-time best in Canadian Hockey League history. Under his guidance, Kamloops captured two WHL championships and the 1992 Memorial Cup.

Tom and his wife, Glenda have two daughters, Jessica and Jamie.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I am thrilled with the addition of Tom Renney as Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer,” said Jim Hornell, chairman of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors. “It was a very thorough process, and we were overwhelmed by the quality of the candidates interested in leading Hockey Canada going forward.

In Tom, we have an individual with great experience at all levels of the game, as well as a strong passion for hockey development. Tom understands and has demonstrated the value of teamwork and capacity building.

We are confident his leadership will be essential in working with staff, volunteers, participants, partners and sponsors in facing the challenges ahead for our organization, from grassroots through to our national programs.”

“This is not only an honour for myself, but it is all that and more for my family,” said Renney. “We are thrilled to be joining this great organization. I am excited to dedicate my efforts to grassroots, development and high performance hockey with a volunteer base second to none in the world.”

Renney takes over for Bob Nicholson, who served as president and CEO at Hockey Canada from 1998 to 2014.