John Olver Named Coach of the Year
Published on April 4, 2002 under West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) News Release
BOISE, Idaho - The West Coast Hockey League today announced that Idaho Steelheads Head Coach John Olver has been named the 2001-2002 WCHL Coach of the Year, marking the fourth time Olver has received the honor.
Olver, in his second season with Idaho, led the Steelheads to their first Founders Cup in five WCHL seasons. The Steelheads enter the final weekend of the regular season with a 47-16-7 record, good for a team record 101 points. Olver's team also won a team-record 29 home games, which ties the WCHL single-season mark. In two seasons under Olver, the Steelheads are 94-37-11 in the regular season and reached their first Taylor Cup Finals last season.
Prior to joining the Steelheads, Olver guided the Tacoma Sabercats to three Taylor Cup Finals including the team's first Taylor Cup Championship in 1998-99. In three seasons with Tacoma he posted a 134-47-20 record and was twice named coach of the WCHL All-Star Team. The former eighth round draft pick of the NHL's Colorado Rockies also coached the WCHL's Fresno Falcons for one season.
The WCHL post-season awards are voted on by WCHL head coaches, general managers, and members of the media.
Previous Winners
2000-2001 Blaine Moore, Fresno Falcons
Kirk Tomlinson, Colorado Gold Kings
1999-2000 John Olver, Tacoma Sabercats
1998-1999 John Olver, Tacoma Sabercats
1997-1998 Steve Martinson, San Diego Gulls
John Olver, Tacoma Sabercats
1996-1997 Guy Gadowsky, Fresno Falcons
Walt Poddubny, Anchorage Aces
1995-1996 Steve Martinson, San Diego Gulls
West Coast Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2002
- Honors Bestowed on WCHL Teams - WCHL
- Gold Kings Announce Playoff Dates - Colorado Gold Kings
- John Olver Named Coach of the Year - WCHL
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