WHL champions hire former Blades coach
Brockman takes over Swift Current team in rebuild mode after winning WHL title
The Broncos (were) impressed with Dean’s ability to build and to maintain relationships with players, staff and community, while at the same time getting the best out of his team.
Dean Brockman didn’t have to wait long for his second chance as a WHL head coach.
Just three months after he was fired by the Saskatoon Blades, Brockman landed on his feet with the Swift Current Broncos, who introduced the veteran bench boss Wednesday as their new head coach and director of hockey operations.
“I’m very happy to be given this opportunity and be a part of this historic franchise,” Brockman said in a prepared statement.
“Being from Saskatchewan, I’m familiar with the community and how much the Swift Current Broncos mean to the greater southwest. It’s a huge reason why I am ecstatic to be here and can’t wait to get started.”
Brockman has big shoes to fill in replacing Manny Viveiros, who was named the league’s coach of the year last season while guiding Swift Current to its first WHL title since 1993.
Viveiros left to become an assistant coach with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers.
The Broncos wasted little time snapping up Brockman, a wellrespected coach who was made a scapegoat by the perennially rebuilding Blades after they missed the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
Brockman guided the club to a combined record of 63-68-10-3 over two seasons at the helm, narrowly failing to make the playoffs on each occasion.
The team posted a winning record in 2017-18 (35-33-3-1) and missed the post-season by three points, despite having a record that was superior to that of two clubs that made the playoffs in the Central Division.
“The Broncos (were) impressed with Dean’s ability to build and to maintain relationships with players, parents staff and community, while at the same time getting the best out of his team,” said Broncos chairman Trent McCleary.
“We’re looking forward to working with and getting to know Coach Brockman while we defend the WHL championship and Ed Chynoweth Cup.”
Brockman initially spent two seasons as an assistant coach in Saskatoon under Bob Woods, who left in 2016 to take an assistant job with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.
The Blades quickly promoted Brockman, who had a glowing junior A resume as the longtime head coach and GM of the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos.
The native of St. Benedict won five league titles and two national championships in Humboldt while claiming four SJHL coach of the year awards.
Brockman also guided Team Canada West to a silver medal at the World Junior A Challenge in 2012 and won gold as an assistant the previous year.
In Swift Current, he takes over a rebuilding team that sacrificed multiple high-level prospects and draft picks to improve its team for a run at the 2018 championship.
After winning the league title, the Broncos suffered three straight losses at the Memorial Cup in Regina and were eliminated from the tournament.
Viveiros formally accepted a job with the Oilers just two days later.