Quesnel’s Mitch Love won gold as the assistant coach for Team Canada at the the 2020 IIHF World Juniors. He’ll be standing behind an AHL bench as a head coach in 2021. (Saskatoon Blades photo)

Quesnel’s Mitch Love named Calgary Flames AHL head coach

Love has been working behind the bench for the WHL's Saskatoon Blades

  • Jul. 12, 2021 12:00 a.m.

Mitch Love is moving up in the coaching ranks.

The Calgary Flames on Monday, July 12, named the former Quesnel minor hockey player the Stockton Heat’s head coach. The Heat are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Flames.

In a video message posted to the Heat’s Twitter page, Love expressed excitement at making the move to Stockton.

Love spent the past three seasons as head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades, coaching them to a top five record in that span. He also helped coach Team Canada at the U17, U18 and U20 level, taking home a gold and silver medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

READ MORE: Quesnel-born coach looking to give Canada back to back gold medals

READ MORE: Quesnel local lands head coaching job with Saskatoon Blades

After aging out of junior hockey, Love played five seasons in the AHL, scoring 27 points in 278 games. He was named Man of the Year by Albany in 2007 and Lake Erie in 2008.

Assistant coach Joe Cirella and goaltending coach Thomas Speer will join Love behind the bench in Stockton.

Two former head coaches of the Heat have moved to the NHL level for Calgary.

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com


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