EVERETT -- When the 2009-10 Western Hockey League season opens, the Everett Silvertips will once again have a former NHL coach behind the bench.
The Silvertips have hired Craig Hartsburg as their new head coach, a source within the organization confirmed Monday. Hartsburg is expected to be introduced at a press conference at 12:30 p.m. today at the Everett Events Center.
Hartsburg, a native of Stratford, Ontario, who turns 50 later this month, has seven seasons of experience as a head coach in the NHL. That includes 48 games as the head coach of the Ottawa Senators last season, before he was fired in February.
Everett's greatest success came during seasons from 2003 to 2007 when another former NHL coach, Kevin Constantine, guided the Tips to three U.S. Division championships, one Western Conference title and one Scotty Munro Trophy for the league's best record.
Constantine left the Tips following the 2006-07 season to take the head coaching position with the Houston Aeros, the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.
Since then Everett has struggled. John Becanic, the top assistant under Constantine, succeeded him as the head coach. He was fired in April after Everett end its season with 27 wins, 36 losses, 7 overtime losses and 2 shootout losses, the first losing campaign in the Tips' six years of existence.
The Tips hope Hartsburg, who arrives in Everett with an impressive resume, will turn those fortunes.
As a player Hartsburg spent 10 seasons in the NHL as a defenseman for the Minnesota North Stars. During those years he amassed 98 goals, 315 assists and 818 penalty minutes in 570 games and was named to the all-star game three times.
As a coach, he had three tours in the NHL.
He coached the Chicago Blackhawks from 1995-98, the Anaheim Ducks from 1998-2001, and the Senators last season. During those years he compiled a 201-208-69-13 record. His best season was his first, when Chicago went 40 wins, 28 losses and 14 ties in 1995-96, finished second in the Central Division and lost in the second round of the playoffs.
Hartsburg also has a wealth of experience at the major-junior level, spending six seasons as a head coach in the Ontario Hockey League. He coached the Guelph Storm in 1994-95, going 47-14-5 and placing first in the Central Division before losing in the OHL finals. He coached the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2001-02, then again from 2004-08, winning two West Division titles in five seasons. His overall record as a junior coach is 226-125-23-23.
Hartsburg has also experienced coaching success at the international level. He served as head coach of Canada's entry to the World Junior Hockey Championships in 2007 and 2008, guiding the Canadians to the gold medal on both occasions.
The Sault (Ontario) Star reported that Hartsburg signed a two-year contract with the Tips.
The Star had reported previously that Hartsburg had been in discussions with one junior team, and that he was also talking with NHL teams regarding possible assistant or associate coaching positions.
Nick Patterson's Silvertips blog: www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog.
Craig Hartsburg
Age: 49 (turns 50 later this month)
Hometown: Stratford, Ontario
Playing career: Spent 10 seasons in the NHL as a defenseman with the Minnesota North Stars.
