Trent Whitfield joins Calgary Hitmen as Asst coach

It was just announced that the WHL's Calgary Hitmen had signed on a new assistant coach by adding former AHL workhorse Trent Whitfield.
Whitfield retired from playing pro hockey after the 2013-14 season and moved right into his coaching career by joining the AHL's Portland Pirates, a team that Whitfield played parts of 7 seasons for.  He joined on as an assistant coach there and helped lead the team to the 2014-15 AHL playoffs where they would be beat out in the first round by eventual Calder Cup champs the Manchester Monarchs.

Whitfield now takes all of his playing experience and little coaching experience and moves into a more developmental league where he has the chance to help mold these young major junior players into professionals. 
This seems like a perfect position for a recently retired player of over 800 AHL games and over 190 NHL to really get his feet wet and get into his coaching stride.  A smaller league with loads of potential for players and coaches alike, the WHL is the perfect place to hone your craft.
I look forward to seeing what he and the rest of the coaching staff, head coach Mark French, assistant coach Joel Otto and goaltending coach Darcy Wakaluk, can do with this club.  They will most likely have a team that is in the midst of a retooling and filling some large shoes in the player department,
so look for them to lean on the "vets" of the team to help lead the way and guide the younger players as the season goes on. But also look to see Trent and his counter parts teaching and showing these young players the good and bad of their play. 

This season should prove challenging for the Hitmen, but as well exciting for a new assistant coach and young players.
I wish nothing but the best for this seasons Hitmen and I look forward to catching as many games as I can.

Until next time.