Don Hay steps back, Rockets search begins

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“Don and Bruce (Hamilton) and Derrick (Martin) and myself have had discussions since the end of the year,” Hamilton explained. “When Hazer came on last year, it was kind of a year-to-year thing anyway. Bruce basically told him he could stay as long as he wanted because he’s such a valuable resource.”

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That value extended well beyond the players.

Hamilton says Hay became another mentor for the coaching staff, offering ideas, perspective and lessons that only come from decades behind a WHL bench.

“He did a lot for our coaches, not only Derrick but Brandon too,” Hamilton said. “He gave insight and a different perspective because of all the experiences he’s had.”

Hay’s fingerprints were all over the Rockets last season.

While Kelowna battled through injuries and roster changes, the club quietly developed one of the league’s best penalty-killing units. The Rockets finished sixth overall in the WHL while shorthanded, an area Hay took great pride in and one he spent countless hours teaching.

If there was a detail to clean up, Hay was usually the first one pointing it out.

And according to Hamilton, age certainly hasn’t slowed his passion for the game.

“I think he wants to spend a little more time in Kamloops with his family,” Hamilton said. “The travel is a lot. But when he’s at the rink, he’s the first guy here. He wants to be on the ice all the time with the players. He wants to talk to the guys. That’s just who he is.”

The Rockets weren’t about to let that hockey knowledge walk out the door.

Instead, Hay will continue working with the organization in a part-time advisory role. He’ll be at training camp and remain in regular contact with the coaching staff throughout the season.

“He’ll definitely be here for camp,” Hamilton said. “He’ll still be around our coaches, mentoring and advising, giving feedback to the coaches and probably to us too.”

Exactly what that senior advisory role looks like is still being worked out. Hamilton says it could involve video work, player evaluations or simply being another trusted voice the coaching staff can lean on throughout the year.

The move does, however, create an opening on the bench.

The Rockets have already received a healthy stack of resumes from coaches across North America and even Europe.

“We don’t want to take anyone off the list,” Hamilton said. “If you asked Bruce this question, he’d probably say we’d like someone younger. I think Derrick would too. Someone who’s young, motivated, eager to help and eager to learn.”

Hamilton says there has been no shortage of interest.

“We’ve had quite a few resumes come in already. We’re filtering through them now, and we’ve got some pretty good applicants.”

It’s a fascinating process.

Some applicants bring years of professional coaching experience. Others are younger coaches looking for their first opportunity at the major junior level after working in academies, minor hockey or junior programs.

“You definitely get a little bit of everything,” Hamilton said. “You get coaches from Europe, Quebec, the Maritimes, the eastern U.S., guys who’ve coached pro hockey, academy hockey, bantam hockey. There are a lot of options.”

Finding the right fit will be important.

The Rockets have a young core expected to take another step this season, and adding the right voice to complement head coach Derrick Martin and the rest of the staff could play a significant role in that development.

Replacing someone like Hay, though, won’t be easy.

His resume speaks for itself.

Hay won four WHL championships, captured Memorial Cups in both Kamloops and Vancouver, coached Canada’s national junior team and built a reputation as one of the sharpest defensive coaches in Canadian hockey.

More importantly, those around him say his greatest strength may have been his willingness to teach.

Whether it was working with a veteran coach or a 16-year-old rookie, Hay always found time to share what he’d learned.

Now, instead of riding buses across the Western Hockey League, he’ll be sharing that knowledge differently.

For the Rockets, it’s the best of both worlds.