LONDON, ON – MAY 23: Assistant Coach Steve Hamilton of the Edmonton Oil Kings give players instructions during the third period against the Val-d’Or Foreurs during the 2014 Memorial Cup tournament at Budweiser Gardens on May 23, 2014 in London, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
If the Vancouver Giants want Steve Hamilton to be their next head coach – and there’s reason to believe that is the case — you’d think they’d need to act quickly.
Hamilton, head man Derek Laxdal’s top lieutenant with the Edmonton Oil Kings, was one of two candidates interviewed by the Giants. The other was Tim Hunter, the former Vancouver Canuck tough guy.
Word is that the Calgary Hitmen are also considering Hamilton for their vacant bench boss spot. And there’s also the chance that Laxdal lands a pro job, and there’s a shot at that especially coming off a Memorial Cup victory, and Edmonton would then like to slide Hamilton into that gig.
You’d think something would happen quickly.
Hunter versus Hamilton is an interesting discussion. Hunter, 53. played for Pat Quinn, one of the Giants co-owners, with the Canucks. He’s got extensive experience as an NHL assistant. And he’s done multiple stints with the Okanagan Hockey Academy.
Hamilton, 40, knows the WHL. He has been with the Oil Kings since 2010-11. He’s worked with members of the Giants’ core group. Defenceman Mason Geertsen is a former Oil King. Hamilton was bench boss for Team Pacific at the Under-17 world challenge and the squad featured forwards Ty Ronning and Tyler Benson. Hamilton was assistant with Team Pacific in 2013, and worked then with Giants goalie Payton Lee with that squad.
Among the things you heard out of the Vancouver camp during this process was that they were wanted a “Laxdal type.” They felt that Laxdal’s experience in the ECHL helped him recruit players. ECHL teams have limited NHL ties, so hockey personnel need to attract players.
You’d assume that Hamilton would be a Laxdal type.
He’s worked with defencemen under Laxdal. Vancouver assistant Matt Erhart had similar duties last season under Don Hay.
Hay, Vancouver’s bench boss for a decade, was let out of the last year of his contract to take over running the bench of the Kamloops Blazers.
