TORONTO – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), in conjunction with the National Hockey League Coaches’ Association (NHLCA), announced Monday the names of the six finalists for the Darcy Haugan/Mark Cross Memorial Award, emblematic of CJHL Coach of the Year, for the 2024-25 campaign.
Presented annually by the CJHL and NHLCA, this distinguished honour serves in memory of Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) head coach Darcy Haugan and assistant Mark Cross, who were among those who sadly lost their lives following the tragic events of April 6, 2018.
Each of the finalists were determined through a voting process completed by the CJHL’s nine-member leagues, for their respective contributions throughout the course of the regular season.
The following are the six nominees for CJHL Coach of the Year:
Trevor Blevins, Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) – The Mustangs showed no letdown from last year’s run to the Centennial Cup championship game, finishing with another stellar run in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. … The standard that the long-time Melfort coach Blevins holds his team to, had much to do with it. … With another experienced team, he guided the Mustangs to a SJHL-best record of 46-8-0-2, boasting a winning percentage of .839… 41 of the Mustangs wins came in regulation time, while three more were decided in overtime and two via the shootout. … Melfort had the best power play (25%) and penalty kill (85.3%) in the league. … Their goal differential of plus-98 was 22 tallies better than the next closest side in the 12-team SJHL. … The Mustangs were also first overall in goals-scored (221) and allowed the fewest against (123). … Hailing from Melfort, Sask., Blevins also played his junior hockey for his hometown Mustangs. … He has served as head coach of the club since the 2011-12 season and has also been their general manager the past five campaigns.
With files from Jamie Neugebauer & Clark Munroe, Co–Directors of Media (SJHL)
Matt Melo, Winkler Flyers (MJHL) – Coming into a team that won a league championship the previous season could have been a difficult situation for any coach. However, with Melo at the helm in Winkler, he took the Flyers to another level. … Winkler finished with a Manitoba Junior Hockey League regular season-best record of 46-8-3-1 record. … Their plus-147 goal differential was the highest in the MJHL. … The Flyers also allowed a league-low 107 goals-against in 58 games played. … The orange and black also finished with the league’s best powerplay (26.7%) and penalty kill (86.4%) to cap off an incredible regular season for the Flyers. … Melo was awarded with the 2024-25 Muzz MacPherson Award as MJHL Coach of the Year, as voted on by his coaching peers.
With files from Erik Swar, Director of Marketing & Partnerships (MJHL)
Darryl Moxam, Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) – Looking to go full circle, Moxam was named the CJHL Player of the Year back in 1996-97. … His efforts behind the bench in 2024-25 guided the Cubs to the NOJHL regular season title with a 44-6-1-1 record… Under him, Greater Sudbury’s 114 goals-against were 25 fewer than the next closest team. … They were also second in goals-scored at 252, to boast a league-best differential of plus-138. … Moxam saw his team lead the league in both power play and penalty kill proficiency at 31% and 88.5% respectively. … His efforts earned him both the NOJHL’s Coach of the Year Award and 1st Team All-Star laurels. … This marks Moxam’s second Coach of the Year honour, having won previously 2005-06 while guiding the Sudbury Northern Wolves to the league championship. … Moxam also led Greater Sudbury to a Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy as NOJHL champions last season and berth into the Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ont. … Moxam starred in his junior hockey days, as a play-making centre, compiling 100 points (22 goals/78 assists) in just 31 games in his final season while captaining the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats to a NOJHL title; a Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canadian crown and a berth into the national Jr. A championship. … From there, Moxam went on to play university hockey at Acadia (U SPORTS). … Turning to coaching back in 2001, the Lively, Ont., product has been behind the bench as a head coach, or an associate coach, for 13 seasons in either the NOJHL; Ontario Hockey League or U SPORTS. … Moxam was also an assistant coach for six campaigns. … In the past three seasons his Greater Sudbury squad has amassed a trio of 40-plus win runs, totally 133 victories in that span while finishing first, or second overall, in the NOJHL each year and winning it all in 2023-24. … His Cubs’ club were tabbed in all 23 weeks of the CJHL’s Top 20 Rankings – Fuelled by Gatorade this season, including at No. 1 for four weeks. … They were also slotted no lower than seventh overall in the final five and a half months of the listings in 2024-25.
With files from David Harrison, Historian (NOJHL)
Simon Olivier, Edmundston Blizzard (MHL) – Olivier led the Blizzard to their best record since moving to Edmundston in 2017-18, going 44-6-1-1 on the campaign. … This marked an 11-point improvement from last season. … Edmundston was ranked in the top five of the CJHL’s Top 20 Weekly Rankings for all but two weeks this season. … They climbed to the top spot twice, including the final listings of the season. … Edmundston scored 238 goals and only allowed a league-low 126 against, both of which were improvements from the 2023-24 season. … The Blizzard finished fourth in the MHL in power play proficiency (22.1%) and were third on the penalty (81.6%) this season.
With files from James Faulkner, Director of Communications (MHL)
Justin Pereira, Rockland Nationals (CCHL) – Pereira guided Rockland to an excellent campaign in the Central Canada Hockey League and was named their Coach of the Year. … After joining the Nationals to start the 2023-24 season he guided his club to a 24-point improvement in his second campaign with the club. … In 2024-25, Pereira’s squad finished first overall in the 12-team CCHL standings with an impressive 45-8-1-1 overall record. … They led the league in goals (250) and allowed the fewest against (138). … They also boasted the CCHL’s best penalty kill (84.9%). … He has been a major contributor to the Nationals success over the last two years. … Rockland was nationally ranked all season, finishing with the most weeks at No. 1 in the CJHL Top 20 Rankings.
With files from Kevin Ferguson, Director of Hockey Operations (CCHL)
Chris Schmidt, Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL) – Collected AJHL Coach of the Year honours in his initial campaign behind the Grande Prairie bench as head coach. … He led the Storm to a second-place finish in the Viterra AJHL North Division, the highest finish since the 2009-10 AJHL season, going 30-17-1-6 overall. … Their 67 points were 12 higher than last season. … “His hard work and dedication rubbed off on everyone and led to a very strong culture within the team and players,” said Storm general manager Mark Bombersback. … Schmidt was promoted to head coach after three years with the team as an assistant coach. … Prior to joining the Storm, the 49-year-old led the U18 AAA team in Grande Prairie for four seasons. … From Beaver Lodge, Alta., he was drafted by the Los Angles Kings in the fifth round of the 1994 NHL Draft. … After playing four years with Seattle (WHL), he went on to enjoy a successful 17-year professional hockey career. … Skating for the Kings in the 2002-03 season, Schmidt represented the Canadian National Team in 1999-2000. … He spent eight years playing in Germany, competing in two World Championships, as well as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics for Team Germany.
With files from Charla Flett, Executive Director (AJHL)
Also earning consideration as finalists for the Darcy Haugan/Mark Cross Memorial Award, presented by the NHL Coaches’ Association, were:
Jake Gushue, Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL); T.J. Hill, Stouffville Spirit (OJHL) and Bruce Richardson, Les Braves de Valleyfield (LHJAAAQ).
ABOUT THE NHL COACHES’ ASSOCIATION: The NHL Coaches’ Association is the professional organization that provides support and assistance to the head, assistant, goaltending and video coaches of the 32 teams in the National Hockey League. The NHLCA and its members seek to develop future coaches, give back to the hockey community, and grow the game of hockey globally. One of the Association’s primary objectives is to help develop all hockey coaches from the youth level up to the highest levels of hockey, as the NHLCA strongly believes that coaches are important leaders within their communities, serving as role models at every level of the game.
Photo credits: Adam Hobbins Photography; Broad Leaf Media; Ryan Sawatzky; Caleigh Fera / Points North Media; icelevel.com; Percy Picard