Cory Clouston Finds A New Gig With The Brandon Wheats Kings

Former Sens head coach Cory Clouston has found a new home as he has been hired as the head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Let go by the Ottawa Senators at the end of the 2010-2011 NHL season, Clouston has been on the job search for four months. Hoping to land with another NHL organization, either as a head coach or assistant coach, Clouston had no luck.

Wheat Kings’ owner, Kelly McCrimmon contacted Clouston right after he was let go by Ottawa to inquire if he would be interested in returning to the WHL. Clouston spent eight years with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL, where he amassed a record of 209-114-37 in his five years as head coach.

McCrimmon, who was the former head coach of Brandon will step aside to focus on his other roles with the team (GM, governor, owner). Clouston comes to Brandon with a winning NHL record of 95-83-20 over two and a half season with Ottawa.

"“I don’t think there’s any question that our players will buy in,” McCrimmon said. “They should feel real fortunate to have a coach of his ability taking over our team. I think guys I have talked to are probably, in order, shocked and disappointed because I had good relationships with our players, and then excited when they kinda turned their focus toward what lies ahead.”"

Clouston takes the reigns of a Brandon team that had a respectable 32-31-1-8 record last season despite having many rookies on the roster. There is also a Senators’ connection to the Wheat Kings as two Sens prospects suit up for them in Mark Stone and Jordan Fransoo.

Here is the link to the press conference that introduces Clouston as head coach of the Wheat Kings.

I am glad to see Clouston get another head coaching gig. He was always the hardest worker on the team and breathed hockey 24/7. He was not put in the greatest situation in Ottawa as he had to deal with inferior goal tending and divas such as Dany Heatley and Alex Kovalev. He always got the most of the talent that was available and did the best he could with the roster that was given to him. His lasting legacy in Ottawa may be the improved two-way play of Ottawa’s best player, Jason Spezza.

Good luck to Clouston and here’s hoping everything works out in Brandon.

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