The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce Kevin Willison as the team's new head coach after Paul Esdale was dismissed earlier this week.
Willison's amateur coaching career spans from minor hockey in the city of Calgary for multiple years prior to taking on a position with the Edge School in Calgary as the head coach of their prep midget team where they were consistently a top team in western Canada. Most recently Kevin was the head coach of the Olds Grizzlys in the AJHL, a post he resigned from last week. He has coached notable young players such as Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers, Matt Dumba of the Red Deer Rebels and the Bulldogs very own Brandon Halls
"We are very excited to be able to find a coach of Kevin’s calibre at this time of year and believe he will bring with him the discipline, work ethic and experience that will give us a chance to be a playoff hockey club", stated president Andy Oakes.
Willison, 53, comes with a long history of playing and coaching in the professional and amateur levels. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues 72nd overall in the 1978 draft and proceeded to have a tremendous career in the IHL playing seven seasons with Port Huron, Muskegon and Milwaukee. In 2004 his jersey was retired by the Milwaukee Admirals and he was twice awarded the Governors Trophy which is awarded to the top defensemen in the league. He also spent one season as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL and one season as head coach of the Virginia Lancers of the East Coast Hockey League.
