The first coaching change of the season took place last week as the Prince Albert Raiders fired Cory Clouston and replaced him with Marc Habscheid.
Clouston was in the second year of a two-year contract. The Raiders went 41-41-3-2 during his tenure.
Clouston arrived in Prince Albert with an impressive resume. He had a successful five-year stint as the head coach of the Kootenay Ice from 2002-2007, then spent parts of three seasons as the head coach of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators from 2008-11.
But things haven’t gone smoothly for Clouston since returning to the WHL. He spent the 2011-12 season as the head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, but was removed after one season among rumors of player discontent. He was hired by Prince Albert prior to the last season to take over a talented Raiders team, but Prince Albert finished eighth in the Eastern Conference in what was considered a disappointing season.
This season the Raiders had two players and an assistant coach leave the team, then saw the team start 6-9-0-0, thus leading to Clouston’s dismissal.
“There has been lots of discussion at the board (of directors) level, and it came to a head last night, so the decision was made,” Prince Albert general manager Bruno Campese told the Prince Albert Daily Herald.
The Raiders replaced one veteran WHL coach with another. Habscheid coached the Kamloops Blazers from 1997-99, then took over the Kelowna Rockets from 1999-2004, winning the league championship with Kelowna in 2003 and the Memorial Cup with the Rockets as the host team in 2004. He was general manager and head coach of the Chilliwack Bruins from 2009-11, then went with the team when it relocated to Victoria in 2011. He spent one season with the Royals before being reassigned within the front office.
“When I got the call here my gut said it felt right,” Habscheid told the Daily Herald about why he took the Raiders job.
Prince Albert won its first two games following Clouston’s firing, so perhaps a coaching change was just what the doctor ordered.
Around the WHL
Kootenay, which has the worst record in the WHL, was thrown a lifeline as forward Sam Reinhart was returned to the Ice by the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. The 19-year-old Reinhart had 105 points in 60 games last season, was subsequently selected third overall in the NHL draft, and was not expected back this season. … Spokane forward Kailer Yamamoto was added to the U.S. roster for the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. The 16-year-old received the rare invitation, as the U.S. typically takes players exclusively from the National Team Development Program’s U-17 team to the tournament. … Prince George claimed overage goaltender Jared Rathjen off waivers. Rathjen was released by Medicine Hat after not appearing this season because of a health-related issue. The Cougars released overage defenseman Wil Tomchuk to make room. … Moose Jaw defenseman Taylor Green has retired. The 19-year-old left the Warriors to begin his education. … Medicine Hat 17-year-old defenseman Connor Hobbs left the team and requested a trade. … Prince Albert’s Josh Morrissey was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 19-year-old defenseman had three goals and three assists as the Raiders went 3-1.
Leaders
Points — Nick Merkley (Kelowna) 27; goals — Rourke Chartier (Kelowna) 14; assists — Merkley 22; penalty minutes — Braden Christoffer (Regina) 54; wins — Jackson Whistle (Kelowna) 12; goals against average — Whistle 2.14; save percentage — Landon Bow (Swift Current) .931.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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