Darcy Haugan

Head coach

The Humboldt Broncos were a family business for Darcy Haugan. He was into his third year as head coach and general manager, and his wife Christina was the team’s office manager.

Steven Wilson, a play- by- play announcer in Weyburn, Sask., called Haugan “the classiest guy” in the league. The last time he saw Haugan, the coach was playing video games in his office with one of his two young sons.

“He was very dedicated to his family and at the same time he was a hockey guy.”

Haugan, a native of Peace River, Alta., played his minor hockey in northern Alberta and junior hockey in the Alberta Junior Hockey League for the Fort Saskatchewan Traders and then Bonnyville Pontiacs, and, finally in the SJHL with the Estevan Bruins.

Haugan played professionally in Sweden before returning home to begin coaching.

He had spent 12 seasons leading the North Peace Navigators of the Northwest Junior Hockey League when the Broncos job came up.

“I have to admit I was very content, very comfortable where I was,” Haugan said. “But … when they called back to offer me the job there was a bit of a lump in my stomach.”

In 2015, Haugan earned Hockey Alberta’s prestigious Meritorious Award for contribution to the game of hockey.