This decision was announced by Jim Goldsmith, the team’s director of hockey operations and one of the club’s three co-owners. In a press release, Goldsmith said there were “philosophical differences.”
Those differences likely amounted to this: The owners wanted Williamson to accept a one-year contract and he wanted two years plus an option.
Williamson’s contract expired June 30. You have to wonder why the owners didn’t make this decision in April. If you’re going to do it in mid-July, why not in mid-April? Now the Winter Hawks, an organization that has all but fallen off the media map in Portland, really are behind the 8-ball in terms of finding another coach. Don’t forget that training camp is about six weeks away.
And you also have to wonder about the status of veteran general manager Ken Hodge. Part of the deal when the new owners bought the franchise from Hodge and Co., was that Hodge got a five-year deal as GM. There are four years left on that contract.
Williamson, who played three seasons with the Winter Hawks, was the first — yes, the first — assistant coach in franchise history, joining the staff in September 1994. He had been the head coach since Feb. 3, 2000. He also played three seasons with the Winter Hawks.
Williamson, 34, and his wife, Michelle, have one child, a three-year-old
daughter, and another due in October. He has a degree in marketing from the U of Portland and has said he doesn’t want to leave the city.
However, his availability likely makes him a leading candidate for the two
other head-coaching vacancies in the WHL, with the Kelowna Rockets and
Kootenay Ice.
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As reported here yesterday, the Lethbridge Hurricanes have named longtime Dallas Stars scout Brad Robson as their director of scouting and player personnel.He spent 17 years as the Stars’ western regional scout and is the father of
former WHLer Blake Robson. Brad replaces Brad McEwen, who resigned as
Lethbridge’s assistant general manager last month.
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With apologies to Sylvester Stallone, Rocky II is coming to the WHL.The Edmonton Oil Kings have added former enforcer Rocky Thompson to their coaching staff.
Thompson, who is from Sherwood Park, Alta., will work under head coach Steve Pleau with the expansion team. Thompson, who turns 30 on Aug. 8, played with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers and Swift Current Broncos before going on to a pro career.
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Former WHL defenceman Terry Virtue has signed on as an assistant coach with the Tri-City Americans. He replaces Gord Frantti, who left the club after last season. Virtue, 36, spent two seasons (1989-91) with the Americans before going on to a 16-year pro career.n n n
The Lethbrige Hurricanes will have both their 2007 CHL import picks in camp on Aug. 30. Finnish G Juha Metsola, 18, and Swiss D Luca Sbisa, 17, have both confirmed that they will be in camp. Metsola’s arrival will produce something of a crowded crease, with veterans Mike Maniago, 19, and Justin Leclerc, 18, also in the mix.n n n
The Seattle Thunderbirds have signed Philip Varney as their trainer. He joins them after working as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan U. There, he worked with the volleyball and gymnastics teams. He interned with the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers in 2004. . . . Seattle also signed Jason Berger as equipment manager. He moves over from the AHL’s Providence Bruins where he was an assistant equipment manager.
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