The Cochrane Generals have a new head coach and general manager - a heavy hitter who is coming home to Alberta after years of working with different NHL teams.
The Cochrane Generals have a new head coach and general manager - a heavy hitter who is coming home to Alberta after years of working with different NHL teams.
The Generals announced yesterday that Derek Donald will take over the position left vacant earlier this year by former head coach Dan Gendur, who left the team for a job with the CFR Chemicals Midget AAA Bisons.
Donald will also fill the role of general manager, as current GM Jacqueline Hurlbert is moving on to the club’s board of directors.
For the last three years, Donald has been hockey manager for the San Jose Sharks club, as well as coach with the NHL’s San Jose Junior Sharks AAA Midget program. He’s also served in scouting and player development for the Nashville Predators, and worked as hockey director and coach with the Seattle Junior Hockey Association.
Donald’s resume as a player is also impressive, logging more than 400 games in the AHL, IHL, ECHL and WCHL leagues, as well as
Div. I College University of Alaska Anchorage team, and on the USA National U17 team.
In 2006, Donald was inducted into the University of Alaska Anchorage Athletic Hall of Fame and he served as the school’s director of hockey operations in 2009 and 2010.
“I am extremely excited for this opportunity and look forward to working with everyone within
the Generals, Spray Lake
Sawmills Family Sports Centre
and the town of Cochrane to make the Generals the premier organization in the Heritage League, ” Donald said in a release. “There is a great tradition
established here and my goal is to make it the best team for players to develop and an organization everyone is proud to support and be a part of. ”
Hurlbert said Donald’s application stood out amongst the rest of the applicants for his wealth of hockey knowledge and experience. His connection to Alberta (his parents live in Cochrane).
“He’s going to be instrumental in taking over all the responsibilities, ” she said. “He’s someone who can take what we’ve built and continually improve the organization … He has the experience and the passion - and that is a great fit for us. ”
Donald has already taken over the positions and Hurlbert said she and the rest of the staff are “in the midst of peppering him with information ” about players, league intricacies and more.
While Hurlbert’s own departure from a more active role in the club is “bittersweet, ” she said she is happy to still stay involved with the Gens while continuing her work as director of marketing and sponsorship with the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles.
“If I had gone up against Derek Donald for the position there’s no chance I would have been involved with the organization, ” she said with a laugh. “I really feel comfortable. ”
