[{"id":71888,"date":"2026-07-10T16:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T20:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/?p=71888"},"modified":"2026-07-10T16:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T20:14:15","slug":"islanders-name-john-mitchell-head-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/article\/islanders-name-john-mitchell-head-coach","title":{"rendered":"Islanders Name John Mitchell Head Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Charlottetown Islanders have announced the hiring of John Mitchell<\/b><\/span> as the third Head Coach in franchise history.<\/p>\n

Mitchell succeeds Jim Hulton, who spent 11 seasons behind the Islanders bench and helped establish a culture of success and player development that has become synonymous with the organization. As the club enters a new era, it does so with a coach whose playing experience, leadership, and passion for developing young athletes make him a natural fit.<\/p>\n

A native of Oakville, Ontario, Mitchell\u2019s path through hockey has taken him to every level of the game. He played his junior hockey with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League, as a teammate of current Islanders Goaltending Coach Paul Drew, before being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.<\/p>\n

After three successful seasons with the Toronto Marlies, Mitchell earned his opportunity in the NHL, where he would go on to play nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Colorado Avalanche. Widely respected for his leadership, professionalism, and two-way game, he appeared in more than 500 NHL games while earning the trust of coaches and teammates throughout his career.<\/p>\n

Mitchell concluded his playing career in Germany\u2019s DEL, spending time with the N\u00fcrnberg Ice Tigers and EHC Red Bull M\u00fcnchen. His years overseas allowed him to develop strong relationships throughout European hockey. Connections that continue to strengthen his ability to recruit, evaluate talent, and support player development.<\/p>\n

His transition behind the bench has been equally impressive. This past season, Mitchell served as Head Coach of the Okanagan Hockey Academy Colorado 16U AAA program, leading the team to a dominant USA Hockey 16U National Championship.<\/p>\n

\n

For President and General Manager Scott Harris, Mitchell\u2019s experience and vision made him the ideal candidate to lead the next chapter of Islanders hockey.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom our very first conversation, it was clear that John is someone who understands what it takes to build a winning culture,\u201d<\/i> said Harris. <\/span>\u201cHe has experienced the game at the highest level, he\u2019s passionate about developing young players, and he brings a calm, professional approach that will resonate with our group. His experience throughout the NHL, along with the relationships he\u2019s built in the US, Canada, and Europe, gives our players another tremendous resource as they continue their development. We\u2019re thrilled to welcome John and his family to the Islanders.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Mitchell said the opportunity to lead the Islanders was one he embraced immediately.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m incredibly honored and excired to step in as the new Head Coach. This is a first-class organization with a rich history in the QMJHL. My family and I are thrilled to make PEI our new home and become part of this wonderful community. I look forward to working closely with our staff, developing our talented young roster, and bringing a competitive, winning culture to our fans.<\/i>\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Mitchell now takes over a program with a strong foundation and a proud history of developing players for the next level. As just the third Head Coach in franchise history, he brings a fresh perspective backed by years of NHL experience, a championship pedigree, and a commitment to continuing the culture that has made the Charlottetown Islanders one of the premier development organizations in the Canadian Hockey League.<\/p>\n

The Islanders also announced that Kevin Henderson<\/b><\/span> has been promoted to Associate Coach. Henderson has been a key member of the Islanders coaching staff since joining the organization ahead of the 2019-20 season as an Assistant Coach under Jim Hulton. Entering his eighth season with the club, Henderson has played an integral role in the development of countless players while helping establish the culture and identity that has become a hallmark of the organization. His promotion provides valuable continuity as the Islanders begin a new chapter under Mitchell\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019m incredibly excited to continue with the Islanders and to be a part of John\u2019s staff,\u201d<\/i> said Henderson. <\/span>\u201cThis organization means a lot to me, and I\u2019m looking forward to getting back to work with our players when training camp opens. We have a great group, and I\u2019m excited to help our team continue to grow and compete this season.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Season tickets for the 2026-27 Charlottetown Islanders season are on sale now, along with flexible 15-game ticket packs. Fans can secure their seats for an exciting new era of Islanders hockey by purchasing online<\/a> or by visiting the Eastlink Centre Box Office. Stay tuned for the release of the 2026-27 regular season schedule and information on single-game ticket sales.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Charlottetown Islanders have announced the hiring of John Mitchell as the third Head Coach in franchise history. Mitchell succeeds Jim Hulton, who spent 11 seasons behind the Islanders bench and helped establish a culture of success and player development that has become synonymous with the organization. As the club enters a new era, it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":268,"featured_media":71901,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[144],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-71888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-144","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/10092459\/HeadCoach-Hire-L.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/268"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71888"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71888\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71902,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71888\/revisions\/71902"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":71895,"date":"2026-07-08T13:33:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T17:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/?p=71895"},"modified":"2026-07-08T13:33:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T17:33:34","slug":"spider-macneill-named-head-equipment-manager-for-team-canada-at-hlinka-gretzky-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-islanders\/article\/spider-macneill-named-head-equipment-manager-for-team-canada-at-hlinka-gretzky-cup","title":{"rendered":"Spider MacNeill Named Head Equipment Manager for Team Canada at Hlinka Gretzky Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Charlottetown Islanders Equipment Manager has been named Head Equipment Manager<\/b><\/span> for Team Canada\u2019s Under-18 Men\u2019s Team at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Brno, Czechia and Tren\u010d\u00edn, Slovakia.<\/p>\n

A proud Islander and member of our organization since 2003\u201304, Spider has dedicated more than 20 seasons to our team, earning the respect and admiration of players, coaches, staff, and fans alike.<\/p>\n

After helping Team Canada capture bronze at last year\u2019s Hlinka Gretzky Cup and winning gold with Team Canada White at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, Spider will once again wear the Maple Leaf\u2014this time as Head Equipment Manager.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re incredibly proud to see one of our own representing both our organization and Canada on the international stage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Ryan Oulahen (North Bay Battalion \/ OHL) will serve as Team Canada\u2019s head coach, while Ryan McDonald (Prince Albert Raiders \/ WHL), Brad MacKenzie (Halifax Mooseheads \/ QMJHL) and Kyle Chipchura (Edmonton Oil Kings \/ WHL) will join him as assistant coaches<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is pleased to congratulate several coaches and hockey operations staff members from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) who have been named to Canada\u2019s National Men\u2019s Summer Under-18 Team for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which will be held <\/span>Aug. 3-8 in Edmonton, Alberta<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan Oulahen<\/b> (North Bay Battalion \/ OHL), who served as an assistant coach when Canada won gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, will lead Team Canada as head coach as the country looks to capture its 26th summer U18 gold medal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oulahen will be joined behind the bench by assistant coaches <\/span>Ryan McDonald<\/b> (Prince Albert Raiders \/ WHL), <\/span>Brad MacKenzie <\/b>(Halifax Mooseheads \/ QMJHL) and <\/span>Kyle Chipchura <\/b>(Edmonton Oil Kings \/ WHL), along with goaltending coach <\/span>Jeff Harvey<\/b> (Saskatoon Blades \/ WHL) and video coach <\/span>Matthew Smith <\/b>(Newfoundland Regiment \/ QMJHL).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to welcome Ryan, Ryan, Brad and Kyle to the staff for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup,\u201d said Alan Millar, general manager of the Program of Excellence. \u201cEach brings a pedigree of coaching experience, particularly in short-term international competition, which will be a tremendous asset as we prepare for the tournament. We\u2019re excited to continue the process of building a team and working with a group of players who will proudly represent Canada and showcase their talent to hockey fans in Edmonton in August.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Oulahen<\/b>, from Newmarket, Ontario, recently completed his seventh season as head coach of the OHL\u2019s North Bay Battalion and his second season as the club\u2019s assistant general manager. Prior to returning to North Bay, he spent three seasons as head coach of the OHL\u2019s Flint Firebirds and six seasons as an assistant coach with the Battalion. A former Battalion captain during his playing days, Oulahen spent three seasons as a forward with the franchise before being selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round of the 2003 NHL Draft and playing four seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit\u2019s American Hockey League affiliate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Internationally, Oulahen has won two gold medals as an assistant coach with Canada\u2019s National Men\u2019s Summer Under-18 Team, helping Canada capture gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2024 and 2018. He has also served behind the bench at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on three occasions, including as an assistant coach with Canada Red in 2014 and Canada Black in 2015, and as head coach of Canada White in 2017. Additionally, Oulahen served as an assistant coach for Team CHL at the inaugural 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge, helping guide the CHL to a series victory over the U.S. National Under-18 Team.<\/span><\/p>\n

McDonald<\/b>, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, completed his first full season as head coach of the WHL\u2019s Prince Albert Raiders in 2025-26, guiding the club to its first 50-win season since 2018-19 and an appearance in the WHL Championship Series. Prior to being named head coach, McDonald served as an assistant coach with the Raiders before being named interim head coach in March 2025. A former WHL forward, McDonald spent five seasons with the Regina Pats and Prince Albert Raiders from 2004-09, appearing in more than 300 regular-season games. Internationally, he won gold as an assistant coach alongside MacKenzie with Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge and also captured silver as an assistant coach with Team Saskatchewan at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.<\/span><\/p>\n

MacKenzie<\/b>, from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was promoted to head coach of the QMJHL\u2019s Halifax Mooseheads in July 2025 and guided the club to the playoffs in his first season behind the bench. He previously served as associate coach with the Mooseheads in 2024-25 after three seasons as an assistant coach with the club. Before joining Halifax, MacKenzie was head coach of the Grand Falls Rapids of the Maritime Hockey League, where he earned MHL Coach of the Year honours in 2020-21. He also won gold as an assistant coach with Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chipchura<\/b>, from Westlock, Alberta, recently completed his second season as an assistant coach with the WHL\u2019s Edmonton Oil Kings after previously serving as the club\u2019s development coach in 2023-24. Prior to joining the Oil Kings\u2019 coaching staff, Chipchura spent two seasons with the Northern Alberta Xtreme of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, including one season as head coach of the U17 Prep team. A former WHL forward, Chipchura spent four seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders and was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2004 NHL Draft. In his final season with the Raiders, he served as team captain and also captained Canada to gold at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship. He went on to play 15 seasons of professional hockey from 2006-20, including 482 regular-season games in the NHL. Internationally, Chipchura also served as an assistant coach with Canada White at the 2025 U17 World Challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

The support staff for Canada\u2019s National Men\u2019s Summer Under-18 Team will also include several representatives from across the CHL:<\/span><\/p>\n