© J. Ashley Nixon
Managing and coaching sports teams is a fickle business. And the NHL is as fickle as it gets. Like a high wire act, you get across the gorge against all the odds, to reach fame and great applause. But one small step and you could be down. And out.
Jack Adams Winner 2015
Only last year, Bob Hartley, the Calgary Flames coach won the NHL’s prestigious Jack Adams award. That’s for Coach of the Year. The award came from getting the Calgary Flames, unexpectedly, through to the second round of the Stanley Cup. A win against their arch rivals the Vancouver Canucks was cherished here in Cow Town. This season, the Flames weren’t close to getting a play-off berth. A building team, a talented team, with the prospects of more to come with the likes of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan turning on the red light. Next season there will be new leadership (yet to be announced.
Sorry to see you go, Bob
Bob Hartley was at the helm with the Flames for four seasons. He ended up with a record of 134-135-25. Sorry to see you go, Bob. A really nice job behind the bench and a genuine commitment to the community, helping young hockey players develop their skills in the city of Calgary. The demands of the NHL’s high-wire act were too big this time around.
Good luck Bob, wherever your skates take you.
NixonScan 
Great coach
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