With Eye On Future, Chiefs Dismiss Cox Assistant Coach Cut As Team Emphasizes Experience Heading Into Memorial Cup

The Spokane Chiefs will not renew the contract of assistant coach Brett Cox, the club’s general manager confirmed Wednesday.

“Brett didn’t disappoint us,” GM Tim Speltz said. “He did everything we asked. But with our Memorial Cup situation next year we feel we have a special opportunity to get arguably the most qualified assistant out there, under the standards of a Western Hockey League budget.”

The Chiefs expect to name an assistant to coach Mike Babcock by the end of May, Speltz said.

They’ll play for the ‘98 Memorial Cup in the Arena as the host team. The four-team tournament includes champions of the Ontario, Quebec and Western leagues.

A second factor in the Cox firing is speculation over the WHL coaching future of Babcock. Although he has two years left as part of a three-year deal signed at the start of last season, Babcock was mentioned last summer in connection with at least two NHL jobs as an assistant.

That was before he led Team Canada to the World Junior Tournament championship. His stock has risen since then.

“We have to ask where we’ll be a year from now,” Speltz said. “This is a great opportunity to get a guy (to groom as a head coach) who has more hockey and life experience (than Cox).”

Cox, 29, was 5-3 as Chiefs interim head coach while Babcock was away. Calls to Cox’s home Wednesday were not returned.

Speltz was asked if assistant Bill Peters, who joined the club before the holiday break, is a candidate.

“No decision on Bill has been made,” Speltz said, “but I’m not sure he has any more control over the conditions we’re looking for (experience) than Brett had.”

As for former Spokane assistant Parry Shockey, who coached the Lethbridge Hurricanes to the WHL championship Wednesday with a 5-1 win over Seattle, Speltz said, “Shock is under contract (with Lethbridge) for next year. He’s as qualified as anybody for a WHL head coaching job. I’m not sure this would even appeal to him.”

Shockey’s role next year is uncertain. Although there are no announced head coaching vacancies, one source said three will open in the near future.

One is in Prince George, where Stan Butler - who did a remarkable job taking the Cougars to the West Division finals - won’t remain separated from his family. Butler came to Prince George from Oshawa, Ontario, where he maintains his home.

Shockey was hired in Lethbridge after Bryan Maxwell was suspended from coaching for a year following an altercation in last year’s playoffs with referee Brent Reiber. A source familiar with the situation says Maxwell, the Hurricanes’ director of hockey operations, has made it clear that he’ll return to coaching next season.

Although Shockey lives near Lethbridge, the Spokane job may have more appeal for him than it would appear.

“Would you rather assist in Lethbridge next year or work as an assistant in Spokane, on a Memorial Cup team, being paid U.S. dollars?” the source said.

The Chiefs are also looking for a public relations director after parting company with Dave Ludwig.

, DataTimes