New GM Brad Robson: ‘The Lethbridge Hurricanes will build a winning culture’

After four years, and four seasons out of the playoffs, the Lethbridge Hurricanes have relieved Rich Preston of his duties as head coach and general manager of the club.

Longtime assistant GM Brad Robson will take over the general manager role.

“This is a performance based business, it’s not about potential,” said Hurricanes President Brian McNaughton. “We believe the performance of our hockey team the last 30 games of the season dictated this decision.”

The Hurricanes lost 34 of their final 49 games this season, tumbling from the top of the WHL’s Eastern Conference all the way to ninth place.

“There was a sense part way through that, that ‘oh, this isn’t very good but maybe we’ll turn that around when (Captain Graham) Hood gets in the lineup or this sort of thing’,” said McNaughton. “But in the end, we never turned it around.”

Preston spent four years behind the Hurricanes bench, finishing 56 games below .500 with a 110-156-13-19 record.

There were questions as to whether the Hurricanes could afford to make a move, with Preston still being owed one year on his contract. The ‘Canes lost $600,000 last season and more than $1.25M the past three combined. But with attendance up 11% last season, McNaughton said the finances were in place to make a change.

“The financial position of the team is actually pretty darn good this year, so we believe we have a business case to deal with this. We have a plan in place to minimize the effects of this.”

Robson, the Hurricanes Director of Player Personnel and Assistant General Manager since 2007 now moves into the General Manager’s role.

“The Lethbridge Hurricanes will build a winning culture,” Robson told media at the Enmax Centre on Tuesday.

Robson’s finger prints are already on the team, having drafted many of the players on the team, and being familiar with every player on the roster and protected list.

“He knows the direction he wants to take this team, and how he wants to move this team forward, he has some very clear goals about what he wants to do with this team, so we feel very good about that,” said McNaughton.

Robson said his priority will be the Western Hockey League Bantam draft. He doesn’t expect to hire a coach until at least after the Memorial Cup in May. But he feels the team’s fortunes can turn around quickly.

“With the right coach and right assistant coach and with the direction from myself we can turn this around next year.”