The Lethbridge Hurricanes announced Tuesday the hiring of Peter Anholt as their new Assistant General Manager.
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. For the past three seasons, he’s also been scouting with the Thunderbirds.
Hurricanes General Manager, Brad Robson is excited to have Anholt join the hockey club. “With his vast experience behind the bench and his knowledge of the WHL, he is a valuable addition to our team. Plus, the work and direction he has helped take Seattle with his scouting experience is an added benefit to our hockey club.”
Anholt is also thrilled with the opportunity to join the Hurricanes. “I’ve always been one of those guys that likes challenges and we have the makings to move forward and I’m looking forward to it.” Anholt also believes that his biggest asset is that he knows how to build a team. “I think I have a pretty good feel for good people and I think I have a good eye for hockey talent and hockey sense.”
Is he related to Tak Anholt?
ReplyDeleteWhere is all the money coming from? The team has the worst season in the franchise history and had not made the playoffs in 5 consecutive seasons, therefore no playoff money. The team will not receive any Memorial Cup money this season or next. The team has received next to nothing in NHL draft money over the last few seasons. Sure they get a sum of money for missing the playoffs from the WHL. But, as it is a known fact, the club arranged a $400k line of credit, and a $350K loan from a "private" investor. This money was allegedly used to bring them back to a break even point. Mind you they are still in debt $750K According to the city release of the new lease agreement, there was no exchange of money. However the Canes were able to get their reno payments deferred by adding on a two year extension. One wonders how the season ticket sales are going with the lingering pains over the last year. So where is the money coming from to pay for: two new ticket salesmen, a new assistant gm, and a yet to be hired play-by-play broadcaster? Paul Kingsmith has also mentioned the hiring of a new assistant coach by the end of the week. (Of course that position was made available with the demise of Lukowich). If the Canes lose their court battle with Lukowich, there is more money out the door.
ReplyDeleteThe hirings likely had to be made, but how are they going to pay for all of this, especially when you take into consideration the reluctance of supporters to dole out any more cash. But the timing of all these hiring announcements will be baffling to the fans and shareholders especially when you consider their financial plight.
I can think of a couple better places to spend their money. Like SCOUTING and COACHING!
DeleteNo surprise... I assume many WHL clubs have $1M-2M (yes, that's millions) in a line or credit... Ask a large farmer or an owner of a car dealership, they start the year millions in the red and then do what they can to get back into the positive...
ReplyDeleteMost WHL clubs aren't community owned. This club doesn't have any credit. Rumour is the league has to sign as cosigners for their loans. Just a rumour, but when you think about it, what does the Board of Governors have to put up as collateral when asking for a loan? Nothing. They don't own anything.
DeleteGood reply, but a farmer, car dealership, etc; would not survive 5 years of horrible crops, or 5 years of a continual trend in poor car sales. I would also guess that the WHL club which have the 1-2m in a line of credit would have the huge funds to back it up. The Canes don't and this 6th season does not look much better.
ReplyDeleteAnon 22:39
DeleteSeems to me you always look at the very worst . Many organizations have gone many years of bad times then became profitable. So too have national economies suffered recessions and turned their fortunes around . I am sure you yourself have probably gone through rough times and pulled through [ I hope ]. Failures only happen when you give up and stop trying . Would you prefer if the Canes just stopped trying and give up or work towards a solution?
Justin - the problem is that the team has not done well for 5 years, the team continues to get worse and as much as it hurts the fans and community that they don't have a winning squad it hurts the development and future of the young men that are on this team. Is that fair to them? Does this team not owe it to the players that have worked their assess off for all those years to make it to the WHL and hopefully further to end up on not only a losing team but a team with no funds behind it to help them develop to the next level. If you were a kid drafted to this team, would you want to come to it? Would you want to give up the next 4-5 years of your life? This team needs a full rebuild from the office out...
ReplyDeleteThe hiring of Peter Anholt , a man that has been involved in the WHL for a long time could be the start of a rebuilding process . With 973 games coached, 450 victories ,with teams that were not near the top of the league at the time might just be what this team needs. It is a good first move .
ReplyDeleteAs for the comment that kids avoid coming to this team if drafted, scouts tell me this immediately sends out warnings as to the kid's character. The same is true for some demanding trades rather than showing their commitment . Kodos to the players that come here via trades and compete without sulking. Scouts have long memories.
The characters thing didn't seem to bother Lindros!! And there are many more. What, its a test of your character to lose 50 games a year riding an iron lung into a state of depression. No Bantams signed as yet
DeleteWrong. When kids start NOT wanting to go to a junior organization, it tells me the organization doesn't have credibility, development and good scouting. All check marks of the Hurricanes' organization.
DeleteAnon: 18:32
ReplyDeleteThe Lindros fiasco did not happen when he began his junior career, and you pick one and then say " many more". Pro. hockey is a different game, it is not a development league . I'll give you a good example of a junior player quitting his team ,demanding a trade and then although he was drafted first overall in his junior draft he was not drafted by any NHL team , the first and only time a first overall junior pick did not make the list of NHL prospects .I wonder why.
I talk to Canes some players and they do not ride the iron lung in a state of depression , maybe someone else is in that state and assumes others should be too.
Sorry! I forgot to mention the name of the junior player I mentioned . I'm refereeing to Alex Forsberg of the Prince George Cougars now traded to Saskatoon Blades
ReplyDeleteAnon: 07:03
ReplyDeleteHe quit, went home, played for Humbolt in the SJHL, they weren't able to trade him , he was eligible for the 2013 NHL draft but nobody would touch him . He went back to the Cougars for last season and I hope ,with a better attitude , has a good year with the Blades. Maybe some team will have another look .
Brandon didn't balk on snatching up Ryan Pilon after he quit the Hurricanes. The same will happen to future Hurricanes in my opinion unless there's a catastrophe first.
DeleteBrewster65 12:03
ReplyDeleteAgree - there is not one kid from the first 3 rounds of this year's draft that would not do exactly what Pilon did. And your telling me teams would not take a Bellerive, King, Watson or Franklin if given the opportunity? HA!