EVERETT — The 2008-09 season was the first losing campaign in the history of the Everett Silvertips.
Friday, the consequences for that losing season came down hard.
Everett head coach John Becanic was fired Friday, just seven days after the Tips’ season concluded. Becanic had one season remaining on his three-year contract.
“It’s a tough situation because John has been with us for six years,” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said. “I really like John personally, and his family. Today was a tough day to do something like this, but I felt our organization needed a new direction.”
Soetaert said associate head coach Jay Varady and assistant coach Mark LeRose would be asked back. However, he said he has yet to sit down and hash out the situation with either Varady or LeRose.
Everett became the third WHL team searching for a head coach during the offseason, joining Prince George and Chilliwack.
The news of Becanic’s firing came as a complete surprise to the players.
“I’m actually shocked, I thought he was doing a really good job,” captain Zack Dailey said. “But the organization made a move and we have to support the organization. We believe in Doug, and whatever he does we’ll support.”
Said team co-MVP Shane Harper: “I couldn’t really believe it when I heard it. It hit me pretty hard. He was with me for four years and he was the guy who stood up for me. (Former coach Kevin) Constantine was not my biggest fan, and Coach B was the guy who got me the ice time he could while (Constantine) was here. Then when Coach B was the head coach, he helped improve my play. I credit a lot to him why I was able to break out.”
Soetaert said he had been contemplating a coaching change for a while.
“Any time you make a decision like this you have to think about it for quite some time,” Soetaert said. “I wanted to see how things went in the playoffs, and I thought the team was OK, but I thought the team needed a new direction.”
Becanic had been with the Tips organization since its inception, spending two seasons as the top assistant coach, two as the associate head coach and two as the head coach.
But Becanic’s two seasons at the helm were riddled with inconsistency. He inherited an Everett team that was expected to be a championship contender in 2007-08, but the Tips slumped to fourth in the U.S. Division and were swept in the opening round of the playoffs by eventual Memorial Cup champion Spokane.
Less was expected this season with a young and inexperienced team. Nevertheless, spurred on by inspired play from their rookies, the Tips posted a surprising 13-8-3-0 record in their first 24 games.
The success, however, came crashing down in the second half. In the wake of the trade of star winger Kyle Beach, the tragic death of winger Jordan Mistelbacher and a host of injuries, Everett limped to the finish line, going 6-19-2-2 in its final 29 games. That stretch included four losses by seven or more goals, including a 10-0 thrashing at the hands of Seattle — the worst defeat in franchise history — on the final day of the regular season.
Everett put up a spirited fight against a superior Tri-City team in the first round of the playoffs, thanks primarily to the goaltending of Thomas Heemskerk. However, the Tips eventually lost the best-of-seven series in five games.
It was the season’s second half that sealed Becanic’s fate.
“I thought our first half of the season was OK, but I didn’t like our second half,” Soetaert said. “I understand there were injuries, but it seemed like the team was accepting losing too easily. It became acceptable to lose, and the coach is accountable for that. Saying that, the players have to be accountable, also. There’s blame to go around everywhere, the players included.”
Soetaert also was dissatisfied with the inconsistent effort put forth by the team the past two seasons.
“I’m more worried about work than plans and systems,” Soetaert said. “Our team was very concerned about systems. I think it should be about compete first, then systems second. I felt that’s how these two years were summed up.”
The Tips will take their time finding Becanic’s replacement. Soetaert is spending the entire month scouting in preparation of the April 30 bantam draft and July 1 import draft. He said he expects the search for a new coach to begin in earnest in June, and that no announcement would be made until after the NHL draft, which takes place June 26-27.
“It’s wide open right now,” Soetaert said about the type of coach he was seeking. “I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of people from outside the organization who will be interested in the coaching job when the time comes. There’s a lot of coaches right now who are under contract in the NHL, minors and juniors. We’ll wait until later on and see who’s available at that time.”
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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