Flames name Bill Peters their new head coach

The Calgary Flames today officially confirmed the worst-kept secret in the National Hockey League, naming Bill Peters the franchise’s new head coach. Less than a week after ending Glen Gulutzan’s tenure with the organization, he’s been replaced through an expedient hiring process. He was officially unveiled at a press conference this morning at the Saddledome.

Last Tuesday, the Flames fired Gulutzan and assistant coaches Dave Cameron and Paul Jerrard. Just six days later, Peters has been named coach. Peters will be the 17th Flames head coach since moving to Calgary and the 19th in franchise history. At 53, he’s the second oldest head coach in franchise history – only Mike Keenan started the gig at an older age.

The hiring represents a personal and professional homecoming for Peters. Born in Three Hills, he moved to Killam as a youngster and attended Red Deer College. He moved on to the University of Texas at San Antonio to complete his degree when his wife got a nursing job there, then continued on with hockey via coaching and clinics before landing a part-time gig in 1996 with the Spokane Chiefs. He transitioned to a full-time assistant job with the Chiefs in 1999 and has been coaching full-tilt ever since. This will be his first job back in Alberta since 2005, when he left the University of Lethbridge to coach the Chiefs.

Peters comes in with two types of pedigree. Like Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill he’s a disciple of Mike Babcock, having played under him at Red Deer College and working as his assistant in Spokane and Detroit. He’s also won a lot of fans at Hockey Canada: he’s been part of Team Canada coaching staffs at the Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and three World Hockey Championships.

Given that no announcement was made regarding them, presumably the search for Peters’ assistant coaches is still underway.