Thursday, August 26, 2010

Giants' Sign Bonner and Hay to extended contracts

Press Release

Vancouver, B.C. – Majority Owner, President, and WHL Governor Ron Toigo, announced today that the Vancouver Giants have signed Executive Vice President and General Manager Scott Bonner to a new 5-year contract that will keep him with the team through the 2014-15 season. Bonner has been General Manager since the club’s inaugural season in 2001 and is responsible for building the team into a WHL powerhouse. Under his watch the organization has won 5 straight BC division titles, a WHL Championship in 2006, and a Memorial Cup Championship in 2007.

"I'm excited to continue working for the Giants as I take a lot of pride in what we've accomplished here, “ said Bonner. “ I’ve worked for Ron Toigo for 20 plus years now and this extension provides me and my family the stability to know where we will be for the next number of years which was extremely important for me, as was continuing the challenge of being part of a winning organization.”

Ron Toigo added, “Maintaining stability and continuity in a franchise is essential to success in the WHL and for us that starts with Scott. We have a long history together and signing him to this deal provides security not only for the franchise, but for Scott and his family”

The 2010-11 season will be Bonner’s 25th in the WHL. Prior to joining the Giants he worked for the New Westminster Bruins/Tri-City Americans organization as a scout.

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Vancouver, B.C. – Majority Owner, President, and WHL Governor Ron Toigo, announced today that the Vancouver Giants have signed head coach Don Hay to a new 5-year contract that will keep him with the team through the 2014-2015 season. The fourth winningest coach in WHL history, Hay is entering his 12th season as a head coach in the Western Hockey League, his 6th with the Giants. Since joining the organization back in 2004, Hay has led the team to 5 straight BC division titles, a WHL Championship in 2006, and a Memorial Cup in 2007.

“The calibre of coaching in the WHL is at its peak right now and we feel as an organization that we have the very best in Don Hay,” said Ron Toigo. “Rewarding him with a new contract and to ensure that he will be here for another 5 years was an easy decision.”

A two time WHL Coach of the Year and a member of the BC Hockey Hall of Fame, Hay said, “I am happy to re-sign with Vancouver and look forward to being part of the Giants tradition of excellence for years to come.”

Hay is the only coach in CHL history to win 3 Memorial Cups as a head coach, 2 with Kamloops (1994 & 1995) and 1 with Vancouver (2007).

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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