The Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award is given out annually to the coach of the year in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Originally called the CHL Coach of the Year Award, the trophy was renamed in 2003 to honour Brian Kilrea when he won his 1,000th game as the coach of the Ottawa 67's. Kilrea has won more games than any other coach in Canadian junior hockey history, two Memorial Cup championships and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. He was named the OHL's top coach five times in his 32-year coaching career, and won the CHL Coach of the Year Award once, in 1996–97.
The winner is named from one of the recipients of the Coach of the Year Award in the CHL's three constituent leagues: the Matt Leyden Trophy (Ontario Hockey League Coach of the Year), the Ron Lapointe Trophy (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Coach of the Year), or the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Western Hockey League Coach of the Year). Bob Boughner (OHL), Bob Lowes (WHL), and Gerard Gallant (QMJHL) are the only coaches to capture the award twice.
Winners Season Winner Team LeagueFinalists 1987–88 Hull Olympiques QMJHL Dick Todd (OHL), Marcel Comeau (WHL) 1988–89 Kitchener Rangers OHL Ron Kennedy (WHL) 1989–90 Kamloops Blazers WHL Joe McDonnell (OHL) 1990–91 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL George Burnett (OHL), Tom Renney (WHL) 1991–92 Spokane Chiefs WHL George Burnett (OHL) 1992–93 Tacoma Rockets WHL Gary Agnew (OHL), Guy Chouinard (QMJHL) 1993–94 North Bay Centennials OHL Richard Martel (QMJHL), Lorne Molleken (WHL) 1994–95 Guelph Storm OHL Michel Therrien (QMJHL), Don Nachbaur (WHL) 1995–96 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL Brian Kilrea (OHL), Jean Pronovost (QMJHL) 1996–97 Ottawa 67's OHL Clement Jodoin (QMJHL), Brent Peterson (WHL) 1997–98 Calgary Hitmen WHL Gary Agnew (OHL), Guy Chouinard (QMJHL) 1998–99 Quebec Remparts QMJHL Peter DeBoer (OHL), Don Hay (WHL) 1999–2000 Plymouth Whalers OHL Doris Labonté (QMJHL), Todd McLellan (WHL) 2000–01 Red Deer Rebels WHL Dave MacQueen (OHL), Denis Francoeur (QMJHL) 2001–02 Regina Pats WHL Craig Hartsburg (OHL), Real Paiement (QMJHL) 2002–03 Kelowna Rockets WHL Brian Kilrea (OHL), Shawn MacKenzie (QMJHL) 2003–04 London Knights OHL Benoit Groulx (QMJHL), Kevin Constantine (WHL) 2004–05 Kootenay Ice WHL Dale Hunter (OHL), Richard Martel (QMJHL) 2005–06 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL Dave Barr (OHL), Andre Tourigny (QMJHL) 2006–07 Lewiston Maineiacs QMJHL Mike Vellucci (OHL), Cory Clouston (WHL) 2007–08 Windsor Spitfires OHL Pascal Vincent (QMJHL), Don Nachbaur (WHL) 2008–09 Windsor Spitfires OHL Danny Flynn (QMJHL), Don Hay (WHL) 2009–10 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL Dale Hunter (OHL), Mark Holick (WHL) 2010–11 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL Mark Reeds (OHL), Don Nachbaur (WHL) 2011–12 Tri-City Americans WHL Jean-Francois Houle (QMJHL), Greg Gilbert (OHL) 2012–13 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL Ryan McGill (WHL), Mike Vellucci (OHL) 2013–14 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL Dave Lowry (WHL), D.J Smith (OHL) 2014–15 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL Joël Bouchard (QMJHL), John Paddock (WHL) 2015–16 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies QMJHL Kris Knoblauch (OHL), Dave Lowry (WHL) 2016–17 Owen Sound Attack OHL Danny Flynn (QMJHL), John Paddock (WHL) 2017–18 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL Joël Bouchard (QMJHL), Emanuel Viveiros (WHL) 2018–19 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies QMJHL Marc Habscheid (WHL), André Tourigny (OHL) 2019–20 Ottawa 67's OHL Stéphane Julien (QMJHL), Brad Lauer (WHL) 2020–21 Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021–22 Charlottetown Islanders QMJHL James Richmond (OHL), James Patrick (WHL) 2022–23 Ottawa 67's OHL Stéphane Julien (QMJHL), Brennan Sonne (WHL) 2023–24 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL Derek Laxdal (OHL), Mark Lamb (WHL) 2024–25 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL Jussi Ahokas (OHL), James Patrick (WHL) 2026–26 Everett Silvertips WHL Dave Cameron (OHL), Sylvain Favreau (QMJHL)
See also List of Canadian Hockey League awards
References
External links CHL Awards – CHL