Silvertips coach Hamilton named winner of CHL’s Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award

Named in recognition of former Ottawa 67’s head coach and CHL all-time wins leader Brian Kilrea, the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award is presented annually to the Canadian Hockey League’s top coach.

Steve Hamilton of the Everett Silvertips (WHL) earned the honour after guiding Everett through the best season in franchise history. In just his second season with the Silvertips, Hamilton led the club to a 57-8-2-1 record and 117 points, helping Everett capture a second straight Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL regular-season champions.

Everett’s 57 wins and 117 points both set franchise records, while the Silvertips’ .860 points percentage ranked seventh all-time in CHL history among teams that played at least 50 games. The club was one of the CHL’s most complete teams, finishing third in the WHL with 304 goals for while allowing just 173 goals against, the second-fewest in the league.

Hamilton’s season continued into a historic postseason run, as Everett went 16-2 through the WHL Playoffs to capture the first Ed Chynoweth Cup title in franchise history. The Silvertips then made their first Memorial Cup appearance, recorded their first Memorial Cup win and shutout, and advanced to their first Memorial Cup Final. Hamilton becomes the first Silvertips coach to capture the CHL Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award.

Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award
Winner – Steve Hamilton (Everett Silvertips / WHL)
Nominees – Dave Cameron (Ottawa 67’s / OHL) & Sylvain Favreau (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL)

Winners were recognized at the 2026 CHL Awards ceremony, Monday, June 15, in downtown Toronto. The finalists for each CHL award were determined by the winners of the corresponding honours presented by the CHL’s three Member Leagues: the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

Across the 30 finalist spots for this year’s 10 CHL awards, 19 different CHL clubs are represented, including seven from the WHL, six from the OHL, and six from the QMJHL — reflecting standout 2025-26 seasons from players, coaches, and organizations across the CHL.