Calgary Canucks make a surprising coaching change as season winds down

Geoff Rollins steps in as head coach of the Canucks after the club fired Mat Robinson over the weekend. The Canucks alum will lead the team into the playoffs.

The Calgary Canucks currently sit in fourth place in the AJHL’s South division with a 23-24-2-1 record.

They’ve already clinched a playoff spot but despite that, the team has decided to make a change behind the bench.

On Sunday, the Canucks fired Head Coach Mat Robinson and Associate Coach Brandon Kozun.

Forward Dryden Tomkow says it was a wild weekend.

“Obviously unfortunate timing and losing two great people,” said the 20-year-old.

“It was a shock to the boys, but we’re looking forward right now and our sights are set on the playoffs and we’re looking to have a good run here.”

Rollins takes over

With just three games left in the regular season, the Canucks tapped Geoff Rollins on the shoulder to take over behind the bench on an interim basis.

It’s not the easiest situation for the 43-year-old, but Rollins, who played for the Canucks in 2000-01, says he wanted to help.

“Some of the board members reached out to me last week and explained the situation and asked if I was interested in helping the team out,” he said.

“With being an alumni of the association and how much it means to me to be a Calgary Canuck, I shuffled some things around so I could make it work.”

New message

Rollins will be joined behind the bench by Ryan Carson who takes on the roll of associate coach. Ryley Hearn remains as an assistant.

The Canucks will likely face the first-place Canmore Eagles in the first round of the playoffs. That means Rollins doesn’t have much time to turn things around, but he says he sees potential in the group.

His message to the team is clear.

“I’ve told guys already that everything is going to be earned from this point out,” he said.

“I’m coming in with an open mind and a clean slate for everybody and the guys that are willing to buy in and get on board will be the ones we go with down the stretch.”

Veterans need to lead

Rollins says veterans will be a key to getting his message across. Tomkow agrees.

“We’ve just got to reset mentally,” he said.

“What’s in the past is in the past. We’ve struggled a little bit past January here and we need to reset and forget all about that because ultimately the playoffs are a whole other season and anything can happen.”

The Canucks are back in action on Tuesday night with their new coach behind the bench against the Whitecourt Wolverines. Puck drop is 7 p.m. at the Ken Bracko Arena at Max Bell.