Curtis Hamilton as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club

By Regan Bartel

Son follows in father's footsteps

Running the Rockets runs in the family

Dec 21, 2022 | 6:00 AM

Sadly, we have no photo evidence.

Word is Bruce Hamilton, then general manager of the Tacoma Rockets was sporting a mustache, and was often seen watching high from above the ice surface at the Tacoma Dome with a little baby boy bouncing on his knee.

That little bundle of joy was his son, Curtis Hamilton.

When the Rockets took to the ice as an expansion franchise in 1991, Curtis was born just three short months later.

That little ball of energy is now the new assistant general manager of the team his father owns.

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“That title sounds pretty good to me”, Curtis told RocketFAN after being named to the post 16 days after his 31st birthday. “Any sort of role I would have gladly been accepting. It is a high honour and I am very excited”.

It almost seems fitting that Curtis be given the position. It was often suggested he should join the team in some capacity once his playing days were over.

Curtis played internationally for Canada at both the World Junior Hockey Championships and the Spengler Cup. He played his junior hockey in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades, the same team his father did in the 70s, before being selected in the second round of the NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.

“We’ve [Bruce] had discussions over the years”, Curtis admitted. “I don’t think he wanted to push me into something that I didn’t want to do. I have been a part of this my whole life and I always wanted to be a part of it, but he wanted to give me the option if I wanted to try something different.”

Curtis’ first taste of coaching at the WHL level came during the bubble season in 2021, when he joined head coach Kris Mallette on the bench as a guest coach.

Still wanting to play pro hockey in Europe, Curtis went back overseas last season, suiting up for the Manchester Storm in the UK’s Elite Hockey League before eventually retiring.

The naysayers will suggest Curtis was awarded the position solely on the fact his father is the owner of the team. RocketFAN asked how he will deal with the criticism.

“Even just playing hockey, it has always been like that. That has always hovered above me. I am not too worried about that,” Curtis said. There will always be comments and people will be thinking that, but there is nothing I can do about that. I just have to go out and do the job.”

Curtis isn’t the first son of a WHL executive to cut his teeth either in a front office role or on a WHL bench.

Merrick Sutter, the son of Brent, is the Sr. vice president of the Red Deer Rebels. Shaun, the son of Brian Sutter, is the team’s associate GM.

Matt Anholt is the assistant general manager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes. His father , Peter, is the Hurricanes GM.

Peter Toigo is the assistant general manager of the Vancouver Giants. His father is owner Ron Toigo.

In Medicine Hat, long-time owner Darrell Maser has his son, Josh, as an assistant coach to Tigers bench boss Willie Desjardins.

“Playing professionally and in junior hockey helps”, Curtis added about his new title. “I’ve been around the Rockets and how he [Bruce] does things, and how Lorne Frey and Terry McFaul does things. We all have a similar vision”.

Can the younger Hamilton bring a new perspective to a management group that is easily 30 years his senior?

“I can probably bring something a little different to the table, or maybe just a different opinion on things and that’s good for business and good for the Rockets.”

Growing up, Curtis had to listen to his father, Bruce. As the new assistant GM, will Dad have an open ear for what he has to say?

“I don’t know about that”, Curtis said with a chuckle. “He wouldn’t be putting me in a position like this if he didn’t at least want to hear what I am thinking.”

Curtis can glean a lot from his father, who has been the active Chairman of the Board of Directors for the WHL since 2008.

“Being able to be mentored by him and learn everything I can, I am so excited to continue to get a better grasp of how he does things on the hockey and on the business side”.