Awarded to one head coach from each conference who has excelled in his role over the course of the regular season based on expectations, performance and circumstances, as determined by his peers.To no one’s surprise, Chilliwack Chiefs bench boss Brian Maloney is one of three finalists for the Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy as coach of the year.
The league tweeted out three names Friday morning and Maloney is up against worthy foes, Merritt’s Joe Martin and Powell River’s Tyler Kuntz.
Maloney should still be the favourite after leading Chilliwack to the regular season championship. The Chiefs iced the BCHL’s youngest roster in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, but Maloney and assistant coaches Cam Keith and Brad Rihela have gotten the most out of their team and seen consistent development from just about every player on the team.
Martin has a good case to make.
His Centennials finished 13th overall in the 17 team league last season with a 24-27-5-0 record. This year, the Centennials have rocketed up the standings. Heading into the final weekend with a record of 34-15-4-3, Merritt is tied with Penticton for first in the Interior division and fourth overall and only the Victoria Grizzlies have scored more goals (214 to 213).
In his first year as head coach of Powell River, Kuntz has guided the Kings to a 33-20-2-0 record and second place in the Island division.
According to bchl.ca, the award will be given to the coach ‘who has excelled in his role over the course of the regular season based on expectations, performance and circumstances, as determined by his peers.’
Chilliwack Chiefs coaches have won this award four times.
Mike O’Brien took it in 1991. Harvey Smyl won it in 1996, 1998 and 2001 and Jason Tatarnic got the nod in 2015.