Bill Peters has been nominated as the WHL Coach of the Year. (Photo: Lethbridge Hurricanes)

By David Opinko

Canes’ Bill Peters named a finalist for WHL Coach of the Year

Apr 9, 2025 | 11:01 AM

The head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes is being recognized as one of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) best.

Bill Peters has been named a finalist for the 2024-25 Dunc McCallum Memorial Award as the WHL Coach of the Year.

He was hired by the Hurricanes in August 2023 and is in his second season at the head of the team’s bench.

Peters lead the Canes to a 42-21-3-2 record in the regular season, finishing third in the Central Division, fourth in the Eastern Conference, and sixth overall in the WHL standings.

This was also the first time since the 2018-19 season that the club reached the 40-win plateau in the regular season.

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Lethbridge captured its first playoff series victory since 2018 as they advanced to the second round, and are set to begin a second-round series with the Calgary Hitmen on Thursday, April 10 on the road.

Peters previously coached the Spokane Chiefs to a 2008 WHL Championship and Memorial Cup title before a three-season career in the American Hockey League as the head coach of the Rockford IceHogs. He then served three seasons as the assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings and was the head coach for both the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames.

Six WHL coaches have been nominated for Coach of the Year, including:

• Eastern Conference – Willie Desjardins – Medicine Hat Tigers
• Eastern Conference – Dan DaSilva – Saskatoon Blades
• Eastern Conference – Bill Peters – Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Western Conference – James Patrick – Victoria Royals
• Western Conference – Brad Lauer – Spokane Chiefs
• Western Conference – Matt O’Dette – Seattle Thunderbirds

The league will announce the winner in May.

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