Kalan Anglos
Special to the Record
After a frustrating finish to the 2011-2012 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings have released head coach Jordan Butcher.
In his inaugural season as head coach, Butcher led the Icemen to a 21-18-3 record, with the team taking the VIJHL North Division crown for the second time in as many years. However, despite a talent-laden lineup, the Glacier Kings were upset in the first round of playoffs by the Kerry Park Islanders.
After spending the 2009-2010 and 2010-/2011 seasons as the assistant to former head coach Jim McLean, many expected Butcher was being groomed for the role. Even as a teenager playing for the Kings, Butcher showed promise as a great leader. Yet in his first season at the helm, the 25-year-old Butcher experienced a roller coaster ride.
In the early parts of the regular season, things were firing on all cylinders and after two months, the Glacier Kings owned a division best 11-4 record. But then the November swoon kicked in, and the Yetis went the rest of the year without winning more than three games in a single month. That spelled trouble in the playoffs, when the Kings were ousted by the last-seeded Islanders in seven games.
“We played good enough to win,” said Butcher of the season ending defeat. “We had a good team and I felt we played stronger as the season went on. It’s unfortunate we won’t have the chance to build off what we did this year – that’s the most disappointing part.”
What was the most satisfying part of his short-lived tenure with the Icemen? “Watching these kids grow, not just as hockey players but individuals, and watching some of them get picked up on the various Junior A teams after our season ended – that’s the most gratifying part for me, personally.”
Asked about his reaction to his release, Butcher had this to offer: “At the time, yeah, I was surprised. We had a good team and we accomplished quite a bit, but if they (owners Dave and Marsha Webb) feel a new voice is needed then that’s their prerogative and I respect that. I don’t take it as a shot against my coaching skills, and because of that I can’t dwell on it.”
It is likely Butcher will take the next season off as far as coaching duties, even though his keen hockey sense has given him a few options. But don’t expect the youngest head coach in Glacier Kings history to be off duty long.
“I’ll be back,” said Butcher. “I learned a lot and I realized I love coaching just as much as I loved playing. Even though I have way more to learn, I’m not going to give up. I’m going to keep learning and keep growing and doing what I love to do.”
