Another year, another coach for the Calgary Hitmen.

But not because of shortcomings in the 2024-25 Western Hockey League season.

Quite the opposite for then-bench boss Paul McFarland and the city’s major junior hockey club.

Instead it was a bounce-back — and somewhat banner — campaign for the Hitmen, who put up their best performance in more than a decade.

A 45-17-3-3 record — the best since 2014-15, when they posted a 45-22-1-4 mark and the only time in the last 11 seasons they bettered the 42-win season of 2015-16 — fuelled belief they could make a push for the WHL title and the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

And they proved it was possible on the ice with a solid performance in sweeping the Saskatoon Blades in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in sev

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