The Ontario Reign are getting close to filling their assistant coach opening, and the name at the front of the line is Mike Haviland.
That move would come after Chris Hajt’s recent promotion to the NHL under Peter Laviolette, leaving the AHL staff in need of a replacement. Over the weekend, Mayor’s Manor reported through various sources that the Reign were nearing a decision, and Haviland appears to be the likely choice.
Haviland brings a long coaching résumé with him. Most recently, he was an assistant coach with the Blue Jackets after being elevated from the same role with their AHL affiliate in Cleveland.
Before that, he spent time as a head coach in both the AHL and ECHL, winning a pair of championships in the latter. He also won the Stanley Cup as an assistant with the Blackhawks and served as head coach at Colorado College from 2014-21.
That kind of background has made an impression on people who’ve worked with him. One former player offered a blunt endorsement: “Mike was my favorite coach I ever had!”
The same player added, “I don’t think I would have ever played in the NHL without him,” and then described Haviland as someone who knows how to balance authority and trust. “He’s really good.
Mike does a good job of walking the line of being a player’s coach vs. still being the boss. It’s not a country club, but I wouldn’t call him a drill sergeant either, which is a good thing.
He can be your buddy, but he can also be your boss too. He’s all about the team also; he’s really big on everyone does everything together.
We’re a team. He’s not a yeller or a screamer, but still very firm in systems and rules.
He has structure and expectations. From what I’ve heard about [Andrew] Lord, they’re going to be a good tandem.”
There are also some indirect connections to the Kings side of things, even if Haviland and Andrew Lord have never worked together. Former Reign GM Rich Seeley played for Haviland briefly in the ECHL, former Kings assistant coach Trent Yawney coached with him in AHL Norfolk, and current Kings video coach Travis Culhane also crossed paths with him in the NCAA.
Haviland’s coaching tree goes back a long way, too. Bruce Cassidy was the first head coach he ever worked under as an assistant, back in 1999 with ECHL Trenton, where Kjell Samuelsson was also on the staff.
Beyond the connections, Haviland’s track record is the kind that fits an AHL development job. He has spent years helping players reach the NHL, and the list includes Norris Trophy winners Zach Werenski and Duncan Keith, along with NHL regulars Jaccob Slavin, Brent Seabrook, and Dustin Byfuglien. He was also named AHL Coach of the Year after leading Norfolk to franchise-best marks in wins and points.
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