Latest news with #BradMoran
CTV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Calgary Hitmen name Dustin Friesen head coach
The Calgary Hitmen hired Dustin Friesen as their next head coach Friday. The American Hockey League (AHL) club made the announcement in a media release. They also named Brad Moran and Dakota Krebs assistant coaches. 'We are excited to welcome Dustin as our new head coach,' said Hitmen general manager Garry Davidson. 'He is a proven winner at every level in his playing career and has had a direct impact on championship teams in the past two seasons.' 'He has a passion to develop players and to create a strong culture. We know he will lead and guide our team and build on our progression and success from last season.' WHL news – former associate coach of the QMJHL champion Moncton Wildcats Dustin Friesen will be the next head coach of the Calgary Hitmen. — Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) July 22, 2025 Moncton Friesen comes from the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he helped lead the team to a QMJHL championship and a trip to the Memorial Cup. Prior to that, Friesen coached the Prairie Hockey Academy's U18 team from 2021 to 2024, and contributed to the Moose Jaw Warriors during the 2023-24 season when the Warriors won the WHL championship. Moran has spent the seven years with the Calgary Canucks, including six as head coach and general manager, helping guide the club to two AJHL championships and a Centennial Cup championship in 2025. Moran is also the Hitmen's all-time leader in games played (357), goals, assists and points -- 450, including 204 goals and 246 assists -- during five seasons with the club from 1995 to 2000. Krebs returns to the staff after spending last season as video coach. Prior to that, Krebs spent four years with the University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey program, serving as assistant captain for two seasons. Other returning coaches include goaltending coach Theodore Zubot and strength and conditioning coach Sean Hope-Ross.
Ottawa Citizen
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Lucky toonies and life-long 'brothers': Host Calgary Canucks win Centennial Cup in dominating style
Article content 'Whatever it takes' was how Brad Moran worded his team's run to a national puck title. Article content Article content So when the Calgary Canucks dug a couple of toonies out of the ice amid Sunday's celebration of winning the 2025 Centennial Cup, it seemed to come as no surprise to the head coach of the newly minted Canadian Junior Hockey League champions … Article content Even though he knew nothing of the lucky coins or who put them there. Article content Article content 'One from 1995, and one from 2025,' said the Canucks GM and head coach, his voice dripping with joy after watching his charges score the coveted CJHL crown 30 years — almost to the day — of the franchise's first and only other Centennial Cup. Article content Article content 'So whatever it takes …' continued Moran of the buried treasure. 'I guess that was the gesture.' Article content If there was magic in those toonies, it didn't take the shine off the determination of the Canucks. Article content Moran's men were full marks for the title victory Sunday, executing dominance in a 7-2 taming of the Melfort Mustangs in Sunday's finale, much to the delight of a frenzied 2,720 fans at jam-packed Max Bell Centre. And it was quite the delight for themselves, coming 12 months after losing 2-1 to the same Mustangs in last year's semifinal round of the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ont. Article content Revenge best served cold, you could say. Article content Article content 'It's everything I've dreamed of,' said Canucks captain Bowden Singleton, in the moments after hoisting the Centennial Cup on home ice. 'I might get emotional here in a bit, but I'm just soaking everything in right now. Article content 'That feeling of losing last year and looking at the guys that lost is probably one of the saddest things you ever have to go through, because those 20-year-olds, they gave everything they had.' Article content It was a feeling neither he or any of the seven other returnees of the reigning two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League kings wanted to go through again, unlike the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League-champion Mustangs themselves were forced to do for a second straight Centennial Cup after losing last year in the final to Ontario's Collingwood Blues. Article content 'We started off with one goal to win the regular season and then win the AJHL playoffs and then win the Centennial Cup playoffs,' Singleton said. 'Super surreal, the full circle, and we're going to enjoy it for a long time. We're brothers for the rest of our lives.'
Calgary Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Lucky toonies and life-long 'brothers': Host Calgary Canucks win Centennial Cup in dominating style
Article content 'Whatever it takes' was how Brad Moran worded his team's run to a national puck title. Article content Article content So when the Calgary Canucks dug a couple of toonies out of the ice amid Sunday's celebration of winning the 2025 Centennial Cup, it seemed to come as no surprise to the head coach of the newly minted Canadian Junior Hockey League champions … Article content Even though he knew nothing of the lucky coins or who put them there. Article content Article content 'One from 1995, and one from 2025,' said the Canucks GM and head coach, his voice dripping with joy after watching his charges score the coveted CJHL crown 30 years — almost to the day — of the franchise's first and only other Centennial Cup. Article content Article content 'So whatever it takes …' continued Moran of the buried treasure. 'I guess that was the gesture.' Article content If there was magic in those toonies, it didn't take the shine off the determination of the Canucks. Article content Moran's men were full marks for the title victory Sunday, executing dominance in a 7-2 taming of the Melfort Mustangs in Sunday's finale, much to the delight of a frenzied 2,720 fans at jam-packed Max Bell Centre. Article content And it was quite the delight for themselves, coming 12 months after losing 2-1 to the same Mustangs in last year's semifinal round of the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ont. Article content Revenge best served cold, you could say. Article content Article content 'It's everything I've dreamed of,' said Canucks captain Bowden Singleton, in the moments after hoisting the Centennial Cup on home ice. 'I might get emotional here in a bit, but I'm just soaking everything in right now. Article content 'That feeling of losing last year and looking at the guys that lost is probably one of the saddest things you ever have to go through, because those 20-year-olds, they gave everything they had.' Article content It was a feeling neither he or any of the seven other returnees of the reigning two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League kings wanted to go through again, unlike the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League-champion Mustangs themselves were forced to do for a second straight Centennial Cup after losing last year in the final to Ontario's Collingwood Blues. Article content 'We started off with one goal to win the regular season and then win the AJHL playoffs and then win the Centennial Cup playoffs,' Singleton said. 'Super surreal, the full circle, and we're going to enjoy it for a long time. We're brothers for the rest of our lives.'
Calgary Herald
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Canucks get thrilling OT victory to score spot in Centennial Cup finale
Article content The Calgary Canucks have crashed their own party at the 2025 Centennial Cup. Article content Article content In vying to become hosts with the most at the Canadian Junior Hockey League's national championship, they have pushed their way into the heralded event's finale Article content Patience, confidence and a never-in-doubt attitude is paying off for the reigning two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League kings in their own barn. Article content Article content 'Never quit,' agreed Canucks GM/head coach Brad Moran, just moments after Hayden Fechner's overtime goal in Saturday's 3-2 semifinal victory over Ontario's Rockland Nationals sealed a spot for the home side in the championship final. Article content Article content 'That's the M.O. of the group,' continued Moran. 'They just kept going. They didn't get rattled — they stuck with it. Article content 'I think it's a team that has a big goal in mind.' Article content That's, of course, a Canadian title in front of friends, family and feverish fans, as the Canucks play for gold in the gold-medal game against Saskatchewan's Melfort Mustangs set for Sunday at Max Bell Centre (5 p.m., Article content 'We're full of confidence right now,' said Canucks forward Gavin Schmidt, whose two goals in regulation — including one with just three minutes left in regulation — helped send the Canucks to the OT finish. Article content 'There was definitely nerves coming in,' continued Schmidt. 'But even though we have some rough starts in most of our games at this tournament, we're always turning it around.' Article content Article content In this one, they needed to in order to move on and avoid the same heartache felt last year when they lost in the semi at the Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ont. Article content Article content But it didn't come easily. Article content For most of the contest, the Nationals refused to give up much in the way of scoring opportunities. And when they did, goaltender Benoit Forget — who made 28 saves game-wide — was there to shut the door. Article content The Canucks, however, kept pressing, shaking off two goals scored by Nationals sniper Gabriel Le Houillier, to eventually get a monster goal from Schmidt, who snapped home a feed from Fechner with the home squad short-handed late in the second period. Article content The timely marker breathed life into the Cup hosts, as they came out in the third frame and continued with the never-quit attitude that's paced them through much of the 11-day national championship. Article content But between Schmidt's tallies — his third and fourth of the 10-team competition — it was the home-side goalie, Lukas Renaud, with heroics at the other end. The Canucks 'tender almost single-handedly kept the Canucks' comeback hopes alive with a handful of magnificent saves — including a couple on breakaways — as part of a massive 42-stop performance.
Ottawa Citizen
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Calgary Canucks get thrilling OT victory to score spot in Centennial Cup finale
Article content The Calgary Canucks have crashed their own party at the 2025 Centennial Cup. Article content Article content In vying to become hosts with the most at the Canadian Junior Hockey League's national championship, they have pushed their way into the heralded event's finale Article content Patience, confidence and a never-in-doubt attitude is paying off for the reigning two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League kings in their own barn. Article content Article content 'Never quit,' agreed Canucks GM/head coach Brad Moran, just moments after Hayden Fechner's overtime goal in Saturday's 3-2 semifinal victory over Ontario's Rockland Nationals sealed a spot for the home side in the championship final. Article content Article content 'That's the M.O. of the group,' continued Moran. 'They just kept going. They didn't get rattled — they stuck with it. Article content 'I think it's a team that has a big goal in mind.' Article content That's, of course, a Canadian title in front of friends, family and feverish fans, as the Canucks play for gold in the gold-medal game against Saskatchewan's Melfort Mustangs set for Sunday at Max Bell Centre (5 p.m., Article content 'We're full of confidence right now,' said Canucks forward Gavin Schmidt, whose two goals in regulation — including one with just three minutes left in regulation — helped send the Canucks to the OT finish. Article content 'There was definitely nerves coming in,' continued Schmidt. 'But even though we have some rough starts in most of our games at this tournament, we're always turning it around.' Article content Article content In this one, they needed to in order to move on and avoid the same heartache felt last year when they lost in the semi at the Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ont. Article content Article content But it didn't come easily. Article content For most of the contest, the Nationals refused to give up much in the way of scoring opportunities. And when they did, goaltender Benoit Forget — who made 28 saves game-wide — was there to shut the door. Article content The Canucks, however, kept pressing, shaking off two goals scored by Nationals sniper Gabriel Le Houillier, to eventually get a monster goal from Schmidt, who snapped home a feed from Fechner with the home squad short-handed late in the second period. Article content The timely marker breathed life into the Cup hosts, as they came out in the third frame and continued with the never-quit attitude that's paced them through much of the 11-day national championship. Article content But between Schmidt's tallies — his third and fourth of the 10-team competition — it was the home-side goalie, Lukas Renaud, with heroics at the other end. The Canucks 'tender almost single-handedly kept the Canucks' comeback hopes alive with a handful of magnificent saves — including a couple on breakaways — as part of a massive 42-stop performance.
