Daily News Sports Editor
The only future Guy Charron wants to talk about these days involves the Kamloops Blazers’ next WHL playoff game.
He certainly doesn’t want to talk about next season.
But the fact of the matter is that Charron’s contract is up after this season. So, too, are the contracts of Kamloops general manager Craig Bonner and associate coach Dave Hunchak.
“That’s a question we’ll have to sit down at the end of the season (and address),” Charron said before his club began the WHL’s Western Conference final against the Portland Winterhawks. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
Charron, 64, has been the club’s head coach since Nov. 23, 2009. Originally, he signed a contract through the end of 2009-10. Later, he got a two-year deal that ran through 2011-12. On Dec. 13, 2011, the team announced a one-year extension through the end of this season.
In his three complete seasons as head coach, the Blazers have gone 29-37-6, 47-20-5 and 47-20-5. They didn’t make the playoffs in 2010-11, finished atop the B.C. Division and were eliminated in the second round last season, and are in the Western Conference final this season.
Asked if he wants to keep on coaching or if he is thinking about retirement, Charron replied: “I don’t think of anything right now except playoff hockey.”
He then chuckled and added: “(A contract) is the last thing on my mind right now. I’m really enjoying this.”
Blazers majority owner Tom Gaglardi, who also owns the NHL’s Dallas Stars, chose not to comment.
“It isn't club policy to comment on such matters,” Gaglardi wrote in an email. “We will make any necessary announcements when and if we see fit, and certainly not while our team is still competing for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.”
Hunchak is completing his second season with the Blazers, who announced his hiring on June 9, 2011. Prior to then, he spent four seasons as head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors and three seasons as an assistant coach with the Swift Current Broncos.
His contract wasn’t renewed in Moose Jaw despite the Warriors going 40-26-6 in 2010-11.
Bonner, a former Blazers defenceman, joined the Blazers from the Vancouver Giants, where he had been assistant GM/assistant coach. The Blazers announced on April 22, 2008, that he had signed a five-year contract with the Blazers.
The Blazers have a 187-143-29 regular-season record under Bonner, who has overseen a rebuild of the on-ice product.
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NHL Central Scouting is to release its final ratings today for the 2013 NHL entry draft.
Reports indicate that Portland D Seth Jones, who turns 19 on Oct. 3, will be in the No. 1 slot, followed by, in order, F Nathan MacKinnon of the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, F Jonathan Drouin of Halifax, D Darnell Nurse of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and F Sean Monahan of the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s.
Nurse is a nephew of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Blazers F JC Lipon was at No. 96 and F Cole Ully at No. 97 in Central Scouting’s last rankings.
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