CALGARY — The Calgary Hitmen have hired Mike Williamson as their new head coach, signing the Western Hockey League veteran to a multi-year deal Wednesday.
The 36-year-old Williamson joins the Hitmen after spending 15 years with the Portland Winterhawks as a player and coach.
He played for Portland for three seasons and then spent the next five seasons as an assistant coach. He took over the head coaching duties midway through the 1999-2000 season.
Williams guided the Winterhawks to 219 wins, 248 losses, 33 overtime/shootout losses and 31 ties in over seven seasons.
Williamson, a former defenceman with the RDC Kings, becomes the seventh head coach in franchise history. He succeeds Dave Lowry who recently accepted an assistant coaching position with the Calgary Flames.