The 100 Mile House Wranglers have parted ways with long-time head coach and team manager Dale ‘Duner’ Hladun.
The Wranglers announced this decision late Wednesday night (Jan. 10), thanking Hladun for his close to 10-year tenure with the team. Assistant coach Lee Hansen will be taking over coaching duties in the interim. Greg Aiken, the Wranglers’ president, said they chose to part ways with Hladun as they restructure the team “a little earlier than expected.”
“I hope there’s no animosity, Dale’s a great guy and he’s brought a lot to 100 Mile,” Aiken said, noting that under Hladun’s leadership, the Wranglers won the 2016 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Championship as well as the Cyclone Taylor and Keystone cups.
Hladun said he’s had a good run as coach of the Wranglers. The decision was made on Tuesday morning after practice when several board members, alongside Hansen, came to his office and spoke about a need for a new voice on the bench, he said.
In 2022 Hladun had signed a three-year contract to coach the Wranglers. While they did offer him the option of staying on with the team as their scout and administrator, Hladun said he declined the kind offer.
“I appreciate it but I thought if it’s a different voice they want then maybe I should just step away fully and explore some things I need to do and move on. Maybe my voice isn’t the one you need anymore,” Hladun said. “I appreciate every moment I had here. Wrangler Nation rocks, so keep supporting the kids, keep supporting the team and I will too.”
Hladun said the players adore Hansen and he knows he’ll do a good job with the club. He remarked wryly that “we’re all replaceable” observing that long-time New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was let go the same week he was.
Looking back on his time with the team, Hladun said he’s proud of what he’s achieved. Despite the rocky start to this season, he believes the future is bright for the Wranglers.
“The boys are in a playoff spot and have been playing well lately. There’s a lot of good core players and I think I’ve left the team in a reasonable spot,” Hladun said. “I wish nothing them but the best, it’s been great in 100 Mile.”
As for his future plans, Hladun intends to take a break from hockey for the next few months to focus on his carpentry. He’s been coaching teams full-time now for 30 years and joked a few months away from the sport won’t kill him.
“In the hockey world, a lot of the opportunities don’t occur until the end of the season. I’m a bit of a carpenter and I want to tinker around in the workshop and make some things. I need to recharge my battery,” Hladun said.
The 100 Mile House Wranglers are on the road for most of January and will return to the South Cariboo Rec Centre on Jan. 24 to play the Chase Heat.
