Cougars Head Coach Lamb awarded Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL Coach of the Year for 2023-24
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Prince George Cougars General Manager and Head Coach Mark Lamb is the recipient of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as the WHL Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
Central Division – Willie Desjardins – Medicine Hat Tigers
East Division – Brennan Sonne – Saskatoon Blades
U.S. Division – Mike Johnston – Portland Winterhawks
In his fifth season behind the Cougars’ bench, Lamb led the team to a 49-15-1-3 campaign, marking the franchise’s best season since moving to Prince George ahead of the 1994-95 season.
“I’m very honored to receive the Dunc McCallum Coach of the Year Award,” Lamb said. “It’s totally a team award. It just means that you have a really good team, a lot of good players and you have a great coaching staff. With the addition of Jim Playfair and Carter Rigby, Taylor Dakers, our goalie coach, we have a really, really tight group and they all have a lot to say.”
Prince George closed out the regular season as the second-highest scoring team in the league, netting 316 goals, while allowing the second-fewest goals against (187).
The Cougars also ranked second in powerplay efficiency (30.1 percent) and penalty kill (84.3 percent).
Three of Lamb’s players, Zac Funk (Washington Capitals), Riley Heidt (Minnesota Wild) and Rookie of the Year nominee Terik Parascak (2024 NHL Draft-eligible) broke the 100-point mark, with Funk leading all WHL skaters with 67 goals and earning a contract with the Washington Capitals.
Prince George was also the league’s strongest road team, going 24-8-0-2 in opponent’s arenas.
Lamb is the first Prince George Cougars coach to win the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy.
The Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy honours the memory of Dunc McCallum, who was named WHL Coach of the Year twice while turning the Brandon Wheat Kings into a formidable powerhouse of the 1970s, culminating in a WHL Championship win and Memorial Cup Final appearance in 1979.
From 1976-1981, McCallum amassed an impressive regular season record of 251-123-41 behind the Brandon bench.
The WHL Coach of the Year Award is voted upon by WHL General Managers and members of the media.
Winners of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (since 2003)
| 2023-24 | Mark Lamb, Prince George Cougars |
| 2022-23 | Brennan Sonne, Saskatoon Blades |
| 2021-22 | James Patrick, Winnipeg ICE |
| 2020-21 | Not presented due to COVID-19 |
| 2019-20 | Brad Lauer, Edmonton Oil Kings |
| 2018-19 | Marc Habscheid, Prince Albert Raiders |
| 2017-18 | Manny Viveiros, Swift Current Broncos |
| 2016-17 | John Paddock, Regina Pats |
| 2015-16 | Dave Lowry, Victoria Royals |
| 2014-15 | John Paddock, Regina Pats |
| 2013-14 | Dave Lowry, Victoria Royals |
| 2012-13 | Ryan McGill, Kootenay ICE |
| 2011-12 | Jim Hiller, Tri-City Americans* |
| 2010-11 | Don Nachbaur, Spokane Chiefs |
| 2009-10 | Mark Holick, Kootenay ICE |
| 2008-09 | Don Hay, Vancouver Giants |
| 2007-08 | Don Nachbaur, Tri-City Americans |
| 2006-07 | Cory Clouston, Kootenay ICE |
| 2005-06 | Will Desjardins, Medicine Hat Tigers* |
| 2004-05 | Cory Clouston, Kootenay ICE* |
| 2003-04 | Kevin Constantine, Everett Silvertips |
| 2002-03 | Marc Habscheid, Kelowna Rockets* |
* – Denotes Canadian Hockey League Coach of the Year
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
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