Don of a new era: Rockets add Don Hay to coaching staff

It’s a blend of youth and experience, fresh ideas and Hall of Fame credentials. And with the ultimate goal of another championship run, the Rockets are clearly aiming high.

Martin shed the interim tag after taking over midway through last season. He’s earned respect inside the room and throughout the league as a sharp hockey mind, a tireless worker, and a coach players trust. Now, he’ll lead the charge full-time with one of the most decorated coaches in junior hockey riding shotgun.

At 71, Don Hay’s resume is unmatched: four Memorial Cups (three with Kamloops, one with Vancouver), three WHL Coach of the Year awards, over 850 wins, and a reputation for structure, discipline, and player development that spans generations.

Affectionately known as “Hayzer,” he’s spent much of his coaching life in Kamloops, most recently as an assistant under Shaun Clouston. That tenure ended this spring when Clouston retooled his staff and just like that, Hay was on the market.

Kelowna didn’t hesitate.

Hay joining the Rockets — the Blazers’ B.C. Division rival — is a storyline that’ll make waves across the WHL. But make no mistake: this move is less about drama and more about impact.

“Work ethic is non-negotiable,” Hay told RocketFAN in a past sit-down. “Discipline and structure, you need all of it to be a good hockey club. The kids are so talented now… but they have to learn the value of looking after the puck. Winning still matters.”

Hay has coached the likes of Jarome Iginla, who once called him one of the best coaches he ever had. Now, he’ll get the chance to guide Iginla’s son, Tij, as he enters his 19-year-old season with the Rockets. That kind of full-circle moment doesn’t happen often.

He’s also mentored Ryan Huska, the winningest coach in Kelowna Rockets history and now the head coach of the Calgary Flames. That coaching tree continues to grow — and with Hay in Kelowna, Derrick Martin is the next branch.

Regan’s Take: I didn’t expect this pairing. But the more I think about it, the more I love it. Bruce Hamilton wanted a coach who could win now, and one who could help develop the next great WHL bench boss. He got both. Don Hay has done everything in hockey — and now he’s back, not as the main guy, but as the wise voice beside the new boss. That tells me a lot about both men. For Martin, it’s a chance to grow with one of the best to ever do it. For Hay, it’s about passing the torch, but not before helping to light it.

And sure, it might take him a week or two to stop saying “Kamloops” by mistake. But once he’s settled in, he’ll be wearing teal in his sleep.

This marks Hay’s fifth WHL stop, following Kamloops, Tri-City, Vancouver, and Portland. His last head coaching stint ended in 2018, and while retirement briefly beckoned, the itch to teach never left.

With the 2026 Memorial Cup on the horizon, the Rockets are once again placing their trust in championship DNA. This time, the future gets the keys, and the past rides shotgun.

And maybe, just maybe, they’re about to write another unforgettable chapter.

by Regan Bartel

Don of a new era: Rockets add Don Hay to coaching staff

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