Monday, July 23, 2007

Huska Gets Head Coach Gig, Or Does He?

The Ryan Huska era officially takes flight.
A news conference has been set for Tuesday morning at 10:30 where the Kelowna Rockets will name the teams next head coach, filling the vacancy left with the departure this summer of Jeff Truitt.
Huska has no previous head coaching experience at any level, yet has earned high marks as a player with three Memorial Cup titles with the Kamloops Blazers, and one as an assistant coach with Marc Habscheid at the helm in 2004.
If Huska is named the teams new head coach, who will his assistant be? Is goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh even in the Rockets plans in a capacity of that magnitude. No question 'Dilly' is an outstanding goaltending coach, but is fully immersed in that craft. Is he a capable assistant to help an inexperience head coach like Huska through the growing pains of the added responsibilities?
Or will Huska be at tomorrow's new conference as an innocent bystander, as GM Bruce Hamilton brings in an individual with more mileage under his belt as a head skipper? Or does Mike Williamson make his mark in K-Town, as Hamilton beats Kootenay GM Jeff Chynoweth to the punch by hiring Williamson before he takes over the duties of the Ice?
Only time will tell.
This blog will be full of comments from the familiar, or new face when the Rockets finally put a close on a situation that has dragged on for far to long for everyone involved, Hamilton, Huska and the team.
If I am a betting man, this is my percentage breakdown on who gets hired. Huska 70% - Williamson 20% - Habscheid 5% - Other 5%.

3 comments:

Jared Comeau said...

I'm not sure I really want to see Mike Williamson behind the Rockets Bench to tell you the truth Regan. His track record in Portland is Not very good at all...

180W - 280L - 26T - 22OTL - 2SL

304 Total loses overpowers the 180 Total wins by a long shot...Here's hoping Kootenay gets him...IMO

Andy Kemper said...

Jared,
your numbers are incorrect...

Williamson's career numbers:

531 games

219 wins - 248 losses - 64 OTL/SOL/Ties

He had .500 or above record in five of seven full seasons with two bad years where the team won 19 and 17 games. Take those out and the record is 183-156-48.

This past year was the first time that his team had missed the playoffs.

Jared Comeau said...

I do appologise then for my inacurracies Andy, Hiockeydb must be off a bit then...
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=22899