John Bean
President and CEO
John Bean was named president of the Calgary Hitmen on July 16, 2018. He joined Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) in January 2010 as Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration and CFO before being named Chief Operating Officer of CSEC in September 2013. That summer he lead the restoration and recovery of the Scotiabank Saddledome which was significantly impacted by the flood of 2013. In less than 70 days the entire event level was stripped down to the concrete and rebuilt in time for the 2013/2014 hockey season.
Bean is also the National Lacrosse League Governor for the Calgary Roughnecks, Chairman of the NLL Audit and Finance Committee, a member of the CFL Audit and Finance Committee and the Treasurer for the Calgary Flames Foundation for Life. Prior to joining CSEC, Bean, a Chartered Accountant, held a variety of senior executive roles in the oil and gas services industry including Vice President, Finance with CCS Corporation Ltd. and Chief Financial Officer with Hazco Environmental Services Ltd.
Born and raised in Saskatoon before attending the University of Saskatchewan he and his wife Rhonda moved to Calgary in 1988 where they have raised two children. Bean enjoys golfing and spending time with his family.
Mike Moore
Vice President and Governor
Mike Moore is in his 26th season in the Western Hockey League and 15th with the Calgary Hitmen. His tenure with the franchise began with a one-year term as assistant general manager in 1997-98. He then served as general manager of the Kamloops Blazers (1998-2004) and Medicine Hat Tigers (2004-05) before spending three seasons as director of athletics with Edge School (2005-08).
His return to the Hitmen for the 2008-09 season saw Moore as director of business operations before adding the title of assistant general manager in 2012. Moore moved to the role of general manager and vice president of business operations in 2013 and was then promoted to vice president and alternate governor in 2017.
During his Hitmen tenure, Moore has received a pair of WHL recognitions: Marketing/Public Relations Award in 2010-11 and Eastern Conference nominee for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial trophy as WHL Executive of the Year in 2013-14.
Steve Hamilton
Head Coach
Steve Hamilton is in his fifth season with the Calgary Hitmen having guided the club to a combined 71 wins during his first two years at the helm. Before moving to the Stampede City he helped the Edmonton Oil Kings as an associate coach to three straight WHL Finals, two league championships in 2012 and 2014, culminating with a Memorial Cup title in 2014. The 47-year-old has 10 seasons of WHL experience and has also served as a head coach and assistant with Hockey Canada working with the U17’s and U18’s in 2013, 2014 and again in 2017. Hamilton, a three-time AJHL Coach of the Year with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders in 2006 and Spruce Grove Saints in 2009 and 2010, spent 13 years as a teacher and hockey instructor with Donnan Elementary and Vimy Ridge Academy from 2001 to 2014.
Trent Cassan
Assistant Coach
Trent Cassan is in his seventh season as an assistant coach with the Calgary Hitmen following parts of seven years as head coach of the Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. He also spent two SJHL seasons as general manager. During his time as bench boss, he compiled a record of 177-123-17-24 while advancing to the playoffs in six campaigns, including four league final berths. Under his guidance, the Terriers captured the club’s first-ever RBC Cup as Canada’s National Junior A champions in 2014 along with two Canalta Cups (2013 & 2014). Cassan, who has made two appearances at the World Junior A Challenge as both an assistant coach (2013) and head coach (2014) with Team Canada West, was the co-recipient of the SJHL’s Coach of the Year award in 2012-13. A Medora, Manitoba native, Cassan is a graduate of the NCAA’s Division III SUNY Geneseo Knights (2004-08) and a Terriers alumnus (2001-04).
Don MacGillivray
Assistant Coach
Don MacGillvray joins the Calgary Hitmen after having spent three seasons as the head coach for the Brandon Wheat Kings. Before that Done served as the assistant coach for the club from 2016-2020. MacGillivray brings an extensive coaching background behind the bench in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the Portage Terriers, Neepawa Natives, St. James Canadiens and the Winnipeg Blues. He also spent two seasons as Head Coach with the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) as well as three seasons as the head coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons (CIS), where he was named Canada West Coach of the Year in 2008.
Matt Stajan
Skills and Development Coach
Matt Stajan is in his third year with Calgary Hitmen, taking on a new role as the team’s Skills and Development Coach. Prior to stepping behind the bench, the 37-year-old Mississauga, Ontario native was drafted in the second round of the 2002 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and played seven seasons before being traded to the Calgary Flames. In 2014-15 he helped the Flames make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in six seasons, and continued with the team through the 2017-18 Season. In 1,003 career NHL games, he recorded 146 goals and 413 points. Most recently, Stajan played with Munich EHC in the Deutsche Eishockey League (Germany) before announcing his retirement from professional hockey in 2019.
Theodore Zubot
Goaltending Coach
Theodore joined the Calgary Hitmen in 2021 as the teams goaltending coach. Theodore grew up playing minor/junior hockey in Edmonton before pursuing a career in coaching. Theodore moved to Calgary where he graduated from the University of Calgary and is working towards becoming a Commercial Pilot.
Theodore has over 12 years coaching experience working with multiple Junior, College, and Professional goaltenders. He has also had the opportunity to work with the Canadian National Women’s goaltenders in preparation for the 2022 Olympic games.
Robin McDonald
Equipment Manager
Robin is in his third season with the Hitmen and brings a decorated resume to the post having been a part of 16 gold medal championship teams as an equipment manager with Hockey Canada.
Highlights include;
5 Men’s World championship gold (2003, 2004, 2007, 2015, 2016)
4 Women’s Olympic gold (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
5 Women’s World Championship gold (1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012)
1 Women’s U18 World Championship gold (2014) 1 Canada Winter games gold (Hockey Alberta – 1999)
Adam Leckie
Athletic Therapist
Born in Winnipeg, Adam enters his first season with the Hitmen after spending the last 5 seasons as a student therapist with the Winnipeg Jets. Adam, who graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology-Athletic Therapy, also spent time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during their pre season training camp in 2021. Adam has experience with a variety of sports, both working with and playing hockey, rugby, and football in the past.
Troy Norcross
Coaching Staff Advisor
Troy Norcross joined the Calgary Hitmen in 2008. The Calgary product has over 25 years of hockey experience as both a player and coach.
Norcross, who attended the University of Alaska-Anchorage on a Division 1 scholarship from 1991 to 1995, played with the ECHL’s Alaska Aces in 1995-96, formerly known as the Anchorage Aces. During his Alberta Junior Hockey League career, Norcross played three seasons with the Calgary Canucks, capturing one championship title with the Junior A club, as well as spent two years behind the bench as assistant coach of the Calgary Royals, presently known as the Calgary Mustangs.
Rees Giacchetta
Video Coach
Rees enters his third season as video coach of the Calgary Hitmen. He played his minor hockey in Calgary before completing his business degree at Acadia University, in Wolfville Nova Scotia. While at Acadia, Rees served as Video Coach for the Men’s Varsity hockey team. After graduating he joined the Hockey Operations Department at the Western Hockey League head office as part of the Bill Hay Future Leaders program. Rees also spent time with organizations such as the Palm Springs Power, Brampton Excelsiors, and Treadstone Sports Agency.
Sean Hope-Ross
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Sean Hope-Ross is in his 23rd season as strength and conditioning coach with the Calgary Hitmen. The Calgary product is a certified strength coach and personal trainer with over 20 years of health and fitness experience complemented by a Bachelor of Arts from University of Victoria.
Hope-Ross resides in Calgary and is the owner and president of Sean Hope-Ross Strength and Conditioning.
Bernie Bajnok
Education Advisor
Bernie Bajnok is in 22nd season as the team’s education advisor. He holds a wealth of leadership experience having served as a high school principal for 17 years before retiring in 2003. Bajnok also has a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and a Physical Education Degree.
He helped coach the Calgary West Little League baseball team to a Canadian Championship and the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA in 2001.
Business & Team Operations
Amy Bontorin, Manager, Business Operations
Ken Thrower, Senior Director, Corporate Security
Shannon Dean, Team Chaplain
Communications
Cassandra Vilgrain, Communications Coordinator
Brad Curle, Broadcast Coordinator
Marketing
Ryan Popowich, Director, Marketing & Promotions
Adam Zimmer, Senior Brand Marketing Specialist
Creative Services
Chris Huey, Manager, Creative Services
Colleen Little, Graphic Designer
Sponsorship
Kevin Gross – Senior Director, Partnership & Broadcast
Ally Flinn – Partnership Coordinator
Brennan George – Partnership Coordinator
Jericho Handcock – Partnership Coordinator
Robert Trzonkowski – Sales Executive, Partnership Sales
Ticket Sales
Iain Stewart: Manager, Group and Season Ticket Sales
Emma Portsmouth: Assistant Manager, Group Sales
Alex Brown: Account Executive , Group & Season Ticket Sales
Katie Reid: Account Executive, Group and Season Ticket Sales
Matt Carson: Account Executive, Group and Season Ticket Sales
Daniel Donnelly: Account Executive, Group Sales
Nick Torry: Account Executive, Group Sales
Courtney Gresham: Account Executive Group Sales
Premium Sales
Marc Leost: Director, Sales and Executive Suites
Luke Dauray: Manager, Executive Suites
Craig Smith: Account Executive, Premium Sales
Eric Bay: Account Executive, Premium Sales
Brett Bellows: Account Executive, Premium Sales
Andrew Dunne: Account Executive, Premium Sales
Blake Blondeel: Account Executive, Premium Sales
Ticketing
Erin Hassall, Ticket Coordinator
Contact the Hitmen
Please complete the below form and a member of our team will be in touch.