The Cochrane Generals today announced that Derek Donald will be the new General Manager and Head Coach.
Current General Manager, Jacqueline Hurlbert, will be moving onto the Board of Directors and Donald will be assuming her role and taking the helm with dual roles.
Donald brings 22 years of experience of Coaching, Training, Scouting and Administration from youth, junior, college and professional hockey. He most recently spent the past three seasons with the San Jose Sharks organization as a Hockey Manager and Coach with the San Jose Jr Sharks AAA Midget program.
“I am extremely excited for this opportunity and look forward to working with everyone within the Generals, Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre and the town of Cochrane to make the Generals the premier organization in the Heritage League. There is a great tradition established here and my goal is to make it the best team for players to develop and an organization everyone is proud to support and be a part of,” says Donald.
The Generals Head Coaching Position was vacated this summer when Dan Jendur decided to pursue other coaching opportunities. The Generals will return a high number of players from last season’s team and expect to continue the success from last year. Donald’s first priority is to meet with the players and the sponsors to lay out the foundation for future success. Highlights of Donald’s Hockey Background:
• San Jose Sharks Minor Hockey Association 2014-17; Hockey Manager & AAA Coach
• Seattle Junior Hockey Association/Teams Seattle 2003-09 & 2011-14; Hockey Director & AAA Coach
• University of Alaska Anchorage 2009-10; Director of Hockey Operations & Athletic Department Marketing and Consulting
• Alaska Aces 1994-2003; Player, Coach & General Manager
• Scouting & Player Development Positions; Nashville Predators, Wenatchee Wild, US Pacific District & Independent
• Served on the USA Hockey Junior Council, State Hockey Boards for Alaska, Washington & California, WCHL & ECHL Board of Governors, & NPHL Commissioner
• Playing Career included almost 400 games in the AHL, IHL, ECHL & WCHL; DivI College University of Alaska Anchorage, USHL and USA National U17 team.
• Inducted into the University of Alaska Anchorage Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.
