Wednesday 10 December 2014

Hurricanes Fire GM Brad Robson

President Doug Paisley
At an afternoon news conference ahead of their game against Kelowna Wednesday, the Lethbridge Hurricanes announced Brad Robson is no longer with the Hurricanes Hockey club effectively immediately.

“Going forward and seeing where we were at as an organization felt a change was necessary that was in the best interest of our players, shareholders and fans moving forward” stated Lethbridge Hurricanes Board President, Doug Paisley.

At the same time, the Hurricanes announced Assistant General Manager, Peter Anholt, who was hired in June, will take the reins as both General Manager and Head Coach of the hockey club.



Anholt started his coaching career as an assistant with the Prince Albert Raiders before taking his turn as a head coach. For more than a decade Anholt was a head coach in the Western Hockey League with the Raiders, Red Deer Rebels, Kelowna Rockets and Seattle Thunderbirds. Prior to joining the Hurricanes Anholt had been a scouting with the Thunderbirds.

Peter will arrive in Lethbridge later tonight and will be available to the media after practice Thursday afternoon.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes would like to thank both Brad Robson and Drake Berehowsky for their commitment to the team and we wish them and their families all the best in the future.

35 comments:

  1. I don't see an interim tag on this. Did we jump right into a new relationship without proper due diligence?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice move its about f****** time long time coming, Long road ahead starts now damage has been soooo done. Now we can hopefully look forward to the future nice work Praisely!

    ReplyDelete
  3. As I said in the blog about firing DB. I was hoping this board was smarter. As for me unless this a trial another huge mistake. If Anholt is such a great coach why is his latest experience as a scout not a coach. If you want to see his stats type Peter Anholt hockeydb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What you need to understand before you post anything further is that the hockey club is broke. They're not going to go outside the organization when they're still paying Berehowsky for the remainder of the year and Robson for the remainder of this year and next year.

      LaRon

      Delete
  4. Just rechecked new coach resume. EVERY team he coached had a good record when he got there and then got worse every year until he was fired. LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER HORRIBLE MOVE BY THE CANES. DO ANY BOARD MEMBERS KNOW HOW TO USE A COMPUTER. NOT HARD TO CHECK STATS. I have never coached or played played competitive hoc key. Heck can barely skate but would love the chance to play floor hockey with the team for a few hours to coach them

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kaos, I don't see how they make any other move. They likely don't have the money to pay the current staff through the end of the year. On top of that, what respectable coach / gm would ever look at the Hurricanes situation as a "good" opportunity. As for the interim tag, does it even matter anymore?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well it looks like your all happy now!! Now lets turn our attention to the board members that got us into these problems to begin with... Time to step down Mr Past President. Your the real reason we are in this predicament!! And take your little buddy with you.The one that cost the Canes thousands by making sure we used his brother to design the new logo.. I believe he is also coaching minor hockey with a former coach that sued the hockey club and a disgruntled ex board member.. Sounds like a conflict of interest to me?? But what do I know?? I'm just suppose to continue buying tickets to this traveling circus / Gong Show........

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really liked how Paisley said that the board listens to people on blogs. My favourite is when he asked everyone to put "money where the mouths were and come out and support the team." Well if they listen to blogs, I'm pretty sure most are asking for the team to be sold.

      So yes, I'll start supporting the team when the corruption on the board stops too.

      Like the logo, yep, as mentioned above, strange how a board member's brother got paid to design it.

      And that same guy, as mention above, coaches with Lukowich, a minor hockey team. And he's on Hockey Ops...maybe he's trying to get Lukowich back in? Conflict of interest??

      Paisley, put your money where your mouth is. Clean house, starting with your board!

      Delete
  7. Kaos, you are a tool. He played Tier 2 Junior and at the Canadian University Level. Maybe you could help Keenan, Maurice or Babcock considering they didn't play pro. If you had a clue you would also know he is very well respected at all levels from junior to pros. This organization needs some class and stability both of which he brings. This change alone shows the board has the guts to admit a wrong and evoke change. If I am a current player or an under age prospect sitting at home it has to be refreshing to know culture change is coming. Go Canes.

    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is a good start. Things may not be 100% perfect but they will be 100% better. Everyone involved will have a new perspective and maybe even some renewed hope. While I am not expecting a big win tonight I do think we will see the players with a little more fire in their step and determination in their play. It is even possible that Watson might play with some interest! Given the team's financial circumstances this may be the best available option right now. As the mrs. says, a change is as good as a rest. Let's hope all the players needed was a change.

    Good luck tonight, fellas.

    -cc

    ReplyDelete
  9. I wonder if the board asked the players who they thought would be best coach. Could have picked any of the remaining coaches or assistant gm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When the owner (Board) starts asking the players who they want as coach, you know there's a problem. (No, they wouldn't ask the players.)

      LaRon

      Delete
    2. Yes KAOS !!! The President asks the soldiers who they want for their generals . How long did it take you to come up with that gem ?

      Delete
  10. I would like to say that both of these guys were used car salesmen that never had a CLUE what they were doing... But clearly they knew enough how to sell themselves well beyond their abilities to deliver, and they knew how to walk away with pockets full of my money that neither of them even came close to earning.

    What is it like to go through life and contribute NOTHING in your work and walk away with three years of unearned salary after less than a year and a half of whatever it was that they would say they were doing while they were setting the 47 year old franchise records for worst years EVER!!

    And if they didn't fire the son of the useless GM, they better let him go while they have the dustpan ready, otherwise that little poison pill will just keep the losing culture flowing.

    Money for Nothing... for Leaving

    The most brilliant thing either man has ever done! (ZERO integrity. ZERO accountability. ZERO performance.... yet they leave with a year and a half of salary. No conscience!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just so you have your facts straight...

      DB only have until March 2015 left on his contract and BR has to be paid for the remaining part of this season and all of next.

      I am sure DB "sold" himself. He really wanted to leave Florida and come up here to start his WHL career with this AWESOME team. He really wanted to relocate his whole family, to work in an organization where the GM trades away everyone and leaves him with no one. That's right, I'm so sure that was his master plan all along!

      Delete
  11. Wow Chris a Tool haven't heard that term in years. Thanks for showing the level of your maturity. I was simply stating the facts about the new coach. He could be the most respected person in hockey or maybe even the GREAT ONE but that does not mean he is a good coach. I hope that he is the best gm / coach this team has ever had. When I said to ask the players who they wanted as coach, it was my thought that these players have been neglected since being on this team. It could have been a way to say to them we actually care. Ask Ottawa how having a coach that didn't care about the players worked out. It was just my opinion and if you don't agree with it that's fine. As I just said for this teams sake I hope he is coach of century. I just hope we are all prepared because this doesn't improve the skill level we have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KAOS !!! We are so lucky that you have absolutely no say in the teams operation . If you did it would be utter CHAOS .

      Delete
  12. Justin. So the team is not in chaos now. Let me guess you thought Preston was a super coach / gm and you are probably mad about BR and DB getting fired.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was just pointing out how similar KAOS and CHAOS are . That is very fitting , it explains your thought process . Good name.

      Delete
  13. Now that we have the head coach and GM let go, there should be no reason to not fill the Sportsplex on a regular basis. Everybody that told me they weren't going to a game as long as they were there now have no excuses. Don't expect any 10 game winning streaks, but from here on in there should be constant but slow improvement. Big crowds will hasten the rise up from the bottom.

    Two for Highsticking

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 16:40..... or postpone the inevitable sale of the team. I say stay home until the board no longer exists and the team has new ownership with money, direction, hockey sense and connections.... that will hasten the rise up from the bottom and the big crowds will follow.

      Selltrain

      Delete
  14. You think people are going support a team that's going to have the same results. A slow constant improving! They were improving at the start until Skinner left and got hurt. And they fired a guy for what, THE SAME. Please sell the team. And that comment paisley said about listening to people on the blog. What all sixteen people who make up names. Oh my and this is just the start if it . I only wish the WHL would listen to the blogs. Sell the Team.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anyone have any idea where the Warner girls hockey team was last night. Seemed a little strange that one of the office staff had laced them up to scrape during the time outs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do not think Warner girls work the games this year, believe it is
      the Lethbridge Minor Hockey Girls Midget team.
      RK

      Delete
  16. Every time the Canes have to make a change like this (which is all too often) it reminds me that I haven't paid for a ticket since 1997. The main problem is that Lethbridge isn't a sports town at all. It's a retirement community with a retail and agricultural economic base and a lot of new Canadians who will never care about an expensive winter sport like hockey. Anything else said to the contrary is just wishful thinking about the way you *want* things to be, not the way the things actually *are*. The team will be have to be sold at some point to a private owner with some common sense. When it is, it will be moved, probably to a US city.

    CHL-style junior hockey cannot work in Lethbridge. As a teenager in the 80's I went to far more high school football and basketball games than Hurricanes games (despite there being fewer of them), and I wasn't even much of a sports fan. In Lethbridge high school is where the enthusiasm, money, interest, and generational loyalty is. If I had my way all junior hockey whould be moved to a high school format. If it was, I'd pay to go to games at prices the Hurricanes currently charge. The players would live at home with their parents and have a chance to be regular teenagers.

    There are other jobs in retail and sports in Lethbridge than the Hurricanes. There are other teams to follow at the College and University. It seems as though a lot of people in Lethbridge want to have a junior hockey team but not handle the business side responsibly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very well said. Lethbridge is a mass of small interests that are each supported by a minority of people. As you can tell from the lineup at City Hall on money hand out day, most of them cannot support themselves without taxpayers. The Canes, although trying to stay out of that situation, are in the same boat. Hockey is on the decline across the country (mainly cost, time required, and now concussions). I have had discussions with members of the board and the business manager and the reality is that although we have a trading area of 292,000 you are going to be hard pressed for the following reason to gain great support. 40% won't go near a rink on a Sunday, take away another 10% for senior population, take another 10% for student population, another 10-20% supporting school sports and you can see where this heads. The Canes are already "preaching to the choir". The Canes after the U of L, the College, Soccer, Broomball, Oldtimers, Symphony, Theatre groups, High School sports (and on an on) have about 50,000 in the area that they can actually target as fans.
      At 20 a ticket and 14.00 for two beer they will not be successful. What can be done about it. One thing always brings in fans, a WINNER. All the promotions, specials, gimmicks, loud ranting, etc., won't do it. I was at the Kelowna game and had to stop conversation three times during a break in the play while talking or analyzing the last play gave way to some person ranting, promoting, or giving something away. While some of this is necessary I wonder who the bright light was that said the fans needed an entertainment experience. Well I don't need to be yelled at incessantly and I thought the game was supposed to be the entertainment. Give us a winner and as per everywhere, you will fill the building. You can't sell lemons as caviar.

      Delete
  17. Debi, nice opinion but probably the worst thing I have ever heard. Obviously you are a member of the problematic, large group of people in Southern Alberta that are A. Bandwagon Hoppers and B. Cheap. "I haven't PAID for a ticket since 1997" says it all. Please continue to support High School sports cause that's where you are needed, The Hurricanes and Junior Hockey in Lethbridge will rebound and thrive without you. You are correct in saying the team should be sold and it will be, but much to your disappointment it will remain in Lethbridge where the large hockey community will reconvene to support the team. Don't ever under estimate the hockey community in Southern Alberta, they have been driven away by pathetic management which resulted in a terrible on ice product. As the future of this team improves attendance will return to 3500 to 4500 a night which might make it tough for you to score a free ticket to a game. Best of luck.

    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  18. If you haven't paid for a ticket since 1997 you jumped on the Band wagon when they won the Championship and you are not a Hurricanes fan. And I really almost threw up reading your comment maybe it was because I haven't had coffee yet. But for us real fans we don't appreciate People who don't support a team but feel the need to bash it. Please stop reading this blog if you haven't PAID for a ticket since 1997.
    Peter.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anon 7 03. Season tickets aren't 20 a game and no one is forcing you to drink 2 beer at the game. Most of us can go more then 3 hours without a beer. New gm / coach said all the right things now time to see how team responds. Agree or not but with the quality of the players here now they will be real hard pressed to make playoffs next year to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was an example of the costs. It is reality! Most won't commit to 36 nights to get the ticket deal as season tickets stuck on 1600 is the proof. As with the alcohol of course that is your choice. Just saying there is lots to spend 30-40 on, on any given night and the canes are in tough getting their share. This is the fact, emotion out of it.

      Delete
  20. Debi, you know how people say if a person doesn't vote in an election they have no right to complain about the actions of those who were voted into office? It is somewhat the same here. If you haven't paid for a ticket in almost 20 years, why the heck are you complaining about the team? What kind of fan are you? What do you even know about the team? Do you know the players? Do you cheer loudly for them when they score and feel disappointment when they lose?

    Look everyone has a right to voice an opinion whether it is the person who rants about a lame political decision made after an election he didn't vote in or about the workings of our WHL hockey team that a person knows absolutely nothing about and does absolutely nothing to support.

    Unfortunately for you in both instances these people look like fools.

    -cc

    ReplyDelete
  21. This Board has had a long commitment to the result the team is experiencing. The fans have slowly made the commitment to stop supporting this debacle with their time and $, it has not been good entertainment value for quite a long time. A new Coach and GM doesn't change the sickness of the organizational culture, as past Coach/GM changes should illustrate. Keep driving away the fan base and making Lethbridge more unappealing to future Players, Coaches and GM's; what will be left? A Board that thinks they know everything there is to know and anybody else available is incompetent. Paying fans and corporate sponsors are voting with their time and $ - spending them elsewhere. Fire the board and feel the support of the Community return.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seconded. Best thing the Board of Directors could do for this team and community is walk away... It takes real Men to admit defeat.

      Delete
  22. Griffin Foulk has been released by the team and according to his twitter account he is already back in Colorado. I have also been told (but unconfirmed) that Milekhin has also been released and sent back to Russia.

    -cc

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lethbridge Titanics.

    "Another Iceberg ahead Captain!"
    "Steer into it again Sailor. This ship is unsinkable."
    "The life boats keep leaving and there aren't enough for everybody Sir."
    "It matters not, this ship is unsinkable! We don't need those cowards around. Just keep a few lifeboats around for my Chums. Everybody else can go to Hell."
    "But there's a Ship offering to rescue us! The Versteeg."
    "Send it away Sailor! We don't need help from the Versteeg any more than we needed help from the Sutter when we sent that ship away!"
    "Do it yourself Captain, I'm getting on one of those lifeboats while there is still a chance for some of us."

    Anybody want to buy tickets on the Titanic? No? Then what right do you have to complain? LMAO!

    ReplyDelete