Bill Peters is the new head coach of the Augsburger Panthers. (Photo: imago/Bildbyran)

By David Opinko

Former Lethbridge Hurricanes head coach signs with German pro team

Jun 2, 2025 | 10:56 AM

Bill Peters has announced his next move after stepping away from the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

He will be the new head coach of the Augsburg Panthers, a pro hockey team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) league.

Sporting Director Larry Mitchell says in a translated news release that they were able to attract an outstanding coach with extensive experience in a wide variety of leagues.

“Bill has successfully worked with top players and also developed young talent. His teams’ playing style has always borne his signature. He is not a coach who advocates only one game plan or tactic. Bill has always aligned his daily work with his players and built successful teams. Everyone at our club will benefit from his expertise,” says Mitchell.

Peters was the Canes’ head coach for the past two seasons, helping to lift the WHL club to their best result in several years in 2024-25, reaching the Eastern Conference Championship series.

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He wrapped up his time with the Hurricanes with the fifth-best winning percentage in franchise history at 0.551.

In 2024-25, Peters was awarded the WHL Coach of the Year.

His career has seen him serve as head coach for the NHL’s Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes, while leading the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs to the Memorial Cup in 2008.

The Panthers conducted what they said was a “comprehensive investigation” into an incident from 2009 involving Peters that went public ten years later. It was alleged that Peters was racist towards a former player of the Calgary Flames at the time when he was the team’s head coach.

Mitchell says he understands that Peters has taken full responsibility for his actions.

“He has also developed and grown as a person over the past few years,” says Mitchell. “We have conducted extensive research, spoken extensively with Bill personally, as well as with numerous former colleagues, and have come to the conclusion that we can place our trust in Bill.”

READ MORE: Lethbridge Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters not renewing contract