For those involved in the sporting world, you know changes are inevitable. It goes without saying – these are necessary for the betterment of sport!
May 3rd will go down in the in the history books to Vancouver as Black Monday. Two significant changes were made in major markets.
The first took place in the morning at 9:30 when the Vancouver Giants made the announcement that they finally had replaced fired head coach Dean Evason and hired the one they feel will take them to the next level
This considering the fact they are hosting the 2006 World Junior Championships and would love to be one of the competing teams playing in the event.
No doubt they now have taken major steps in advancing to this goal.
Making a Major Junior team competitive requires pro active action. Going pro was what they did. Hiring someone familiar to the area and the circuit with pro experience.
The signing was pure speculation on everyone’s part and in conversation with some; you might have had better odds going to Vegas.
Acquiring former Kamloops Blazer coach Don Hay was sweet indeed. Not to mention his name is familiar with the Memorial Cup. This being Canadian Junior supremacy in Canada.
Not once but twice. Leading his team to back to back championships in his final year with the team. Don will be the 3rd coach in the giants history three times lucky?
Hay is well respected and at a young age of 50 has experience under his belt with both Ken Hitchcock and Tom Renney.
In 1998-99 he was named WHL coach of the year and executive of the year. He led the Americans to a 43-23-6 record.
His other coaching experience takes him as assistant with the flames in Calgary and the Ducks of Anaheim.He also took Canadas National Junior Team to a gold medal at the 2995 IIF World Junior Championships.
The team went through the tournament with a record of 7-0. This is the only team to go undefeated at this event.
Congratulations to the Giants on reaching the next level of success. Indeed a Giant step.
