Hershey Bears name new head coach

Mike Haviland was named head coach at Colorado College on Friday. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

As a student, Mike Haviland would have faced tough admission requirements at Colorado College.

The departing head coach of the Hershey Bears now will be matriculating at the Colorado Springs school, which has a strong Division I hockey history, as its new head coach.

Haviland, 46, was named Friday to succeed Scott Owens, who stepped down in April after 15 years.

“I'm not going down that road,” Haviland joked when asked about his chances for admission. “It's an extremely tough school.

“It's just a great opportunity for me and my family right now. Obviously, the NHL and the pro game is instability and the college game is a lot different.”

After one season in Hershey, Haviland, who played and served as assistant coach at Elmira College, is returning to his NCAA hockey roots. Colorado College plays in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

“These jobs don't come along often,” Haviland said. “You're talking about one of the premier jobs in Division I college hockey. When you get a chance to get them, they're something you have to look at and entertain.

“I was blown away by the people and their commitment to the students there at the school and to the hockey program. When it came through, it was just an amazing package for me and my family at this point.”

Haviland said he got a multi-year contract but declined to specify the length. He had one year remaining on his contract with the Washington Capitals to coach Hershey, but that is being voided.

“Mike had the opportunity to pursue his coaching career at the collegiate level,” Bears President-GM Doug Yingst said. “It was the right time to make that step. We thank him for his services in Hershey and wish him the very best.”

Haviland said Colorado College contacted him about the job and that the Caps and Bears granted permission to talk to the school.

“I had a clause to get out by a certain date,” Haviland said. “But they had to grant permission for me to even talk to them and the school. Washington was grateful enough to do that. I thank them for that. I thank Doug for that.”

Haviland's departure leaves Bears assistant coach Ryan Mougenel, who is under contract for 2014-15, in limbo.

Mougenel will be a candidate to replace Haviland and also to potentially remain as assistant coach. But if a new head coach is hired from outside the organization, the possibility looms that he would want to tab his own assistant.

“I understand it,” Mougenel said. “Listen, it's a phenomenal game. It's a great game. It's a tough business at times.

“The one thing, I think, that you can't do is compromise who you are. I'm Ryan Mougenel the father, the husband first and the hockey coach comes down the ladder. I think once you have that commitment to where you are, the business side kind of takes care of itself.”

Mougenel said he didn't know that a potential Haviland move was afoot until this week.

“I think it really kind of developed out of left field,” Mougenel said. “It all happened and progressed pretty quickly. I was kept abreast of it kind of within the last 48 hours. I'm a little bit shocked but very happy for him. That's what he wants.

“It was a little bit of a surprise, for sure. But I think it's something, when you get into this business, if you can find security and kind of what's best for your family, I think that's kind of what Havy was thinking. I'm not too familiar with the collegiate level, but from what I hear it's a premier place to be. I guess there were a lot of strong candidates [with NHL credentials].”

Bears captain Dane Byers said he was surprised by Haviland's exit.

“After talking to him this morning, he was pretty excited about it,” Byers said. “Obviously, he felt this was the right move for him and his family. You definitely can't fault him for that. Obviously, wish him all the best in the future.

“He's a guy that I have a great deal of respect for. We made a friendship throughout the year and had a good relationship. I respect what he's done in the past and what he did this year. I thought he was great for our team, although we didn't make the playoffs. We were just shy of the playoffs. It was tough that way. I really believed in all his systems and believed in the way he coached.”

Hershey, which had high preseason expectations, went 39-27-5-5, 88 points, and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004-05. The Bears finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two points short of capturing the final playoff berth.

In terms of regular-season games, Haviland's 76-game tenure is the fifth shortest in Hershey's 76-year AHL history.

Fred Stanfield (31 games in 1978-79), Gary Green (14 games in 1979-80), Doug Gibson (66 games in 1979-80) and Bill Barber (16 games in 1984-85 and 47 games in 1995-96) had shorter tenures. Those were partial-season stints.

“Certainly, not the final result we wanted,” Haviland said. “I think a lot of people may think we didn't have a good year, but I thought 88 points [was reputable] and 90 points got you in.

“It was a pleasure to coach there. A historic franchise. Just to be a part of that and be a head coach, that was an amazing feeling. The fan support is the best in the American Hockey League.”

College teams play fewer games than in the pros and don't face the AHL's rigorous bus travel.

“Quality of life is a lot different at the college level,” said Haviland, who has an overall record of 176-104-36 in 316 career games as an AHL head coach. “That really intrigued me. It just was a good fit for me, it being a small liberal arts college and I went to a small liberal arts college.

“They're committed to the academics but also to winning. That's what intrigued me, too. They really want to win. They're going to give the program resources on and off the ice to win.”

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