Adam Hayduk has been let go as assistant general manager and assistant coach of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon via press release that Hayduk’s contract was not renewed. He spent five years behind the ‘Dogs’ bench with head coach Kevin Willison.
Also released was athletic trainer Damon Pugerude, whose two-year contract had come to an end.
“I’m not going to be able to replace Adam,” said Willison. “He was very detailed, he was very passionate about hockey.”
Releasing Hayduk was a budget decision made by the Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society, Willison said. “That’s a tough question. It certainly wasn’t an easy decision on the board’s part. I have to answer to the board and it was their decision.
“Over the years I enjoyed immensely working with Adam,” Willison said, adding that their strengths and weaknesses complemented each other.
“At the end of the day, as the GM and coach I have a budget I have to work with. They thought very strongly that the budget they came up with tied their hands and that’s the decision they came up with.”
Hockey society president Ron Paulson said the team was looking to the future when it made this decision.
“In hockey and in business you are forced to make tough decisions in the long-term interests of the team,” Paulson said.
In late April Hayduk was called upon to coach a team in their first-ever appearance at the U16 BC Cup championships. The tourney, played in Salmon Arm, featured the top 120 players born in 2001.
Eight players from Hayduk’s team were drafted into the Western Hockey League the week after the Sabres won gold medals.
Bulldogs’ goalie coach Alex Eivin, who was also an assistant coach last year, will remain behind the bench with Willison next season.
“I look forward to working with Alex in the next year to see if we can grow and make this team better,” Willison said.
Eivin, a goalie himself, will look after the defencemen and goaltenders.
The Bulldogs opted not to renew Pugerude’s contract, and will bring in JT Ward as athletic trainer and equipment manager. Ward will join the team in August to prepare for the upcoming year.
Ward returns to the Bulldogs with a Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy from Camosun College in Victoria, and will be in charge of strength and conditioning as well as his athletic therapist duties, Willison said.
“JT has got a little bit more experience on the medical side of things and that’s why we made that move.”
