The Portland Winterhawks announced today that Kyle Gustafson has been promoted to head coach, the sixth in Winterhawks team history. President and General Manager Mike Johnston had signed a four-year extension, but after fourteen seasons will no longer be serving as head coach of the team.
What’s Next for Johnston
In an interview with Josh Critzer of PNW Hockey Talk, Johnston emphasized that he was not retiring, but is focusing on player development and roster building going forward with the team.
“Sometimes, I got bogged down with the day-to-day practices and games as head coach,” Johnston told Critzer. “I think it’s good for this year to step back and see how much I like it or don’t like it moving forward.”
Johnston leaves the Winterhawks bench after fourteen seasons with a total WHL coaching record of 544-249-33-31. He is one of eleven head coaches in WHL history to surpass the 500-win milestone, accomplishing that feat on October 6, 2023, when the Winterhawks beat the Everett Silvertips by a 4-1 final score.
Welcoming a New Head Coach
Gustafson, a Portland native, steps into the big seat after twenty-one years serving as an assistant coach for the Winterhawks. In the 2017-18 season, Gustafson was promoted to associate head coach under Johnston, and one season later took on more responsibilities as he was named an assistant general manager for the team.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be named head coach of the Portland Winterhawks,” Gustafson said in a press release. “Growing up here in Portland and having worked for this organization for many years, I understand the responsibility that comes along with this position, and I look forward to the challenge. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue coaching players I have built relationships with as well as the new players arriving this fall.”
Gustafson briefly departed from the Winterhawks to serve as an assistant head coach with the Vancouver Canucks under their then-head coach, as well as former Winterhawks head coach Travis Green. He returned to the Winterhawks in his associate head coach role the next season after Green was let go by the Canucks midway through the 2021-22 season. Despite being named as a head coach for the first time in his coaching career with today’s news, Gustafson has had some experience leading the bench for the Winterhawks, filling in for Johnston as recently as last season.
Since assistant head coach Brian Pellerin’s contract was not renewed, and with Gustafson’s promotion to head coach, the Winterhawks have two vacancies in their coaching staff, but those vacancies are expected to be filled later this summer. Gustafson’s promotion marks the fourth off-season coaching change in the WHL’s U.S. Division, as Portland joins the Spokane Chiefs and Wenatchee Wild in having a new head coach to start the 2024-25 WHL season. Dennis Williams left the Everett Silvertips as well after seven seasons to become the head coach of Bowling Green State University’s men’s ice hockey team, but the Silvertips have yet to name his successor as head coach.
Looking Ahead
By naming Gustafson head coach, the Winterhawks didn’t have to look very far for Johnston’s successor, while still ensuring that Johnston remains in the organization to continue to find and develop talent to lead the next generation of Winterhawks. And for Gustafson, it all comes full circle–the Portland native who grew up cheering on the Winterhawks now takes the reins as the sixth head coach in team history.