Cameron Hope’s tenure as general manager and president of the Victoria Royals has ended after eight seasons.
The Western Hockey League club announced Wednesday that Hope will not be returning to the organization. No reason was given, other than a reference to moving in a different direction.
“We would like to thank Cameron for contributions and for guiding our franchise,” said Royals owner Graham Lee in a statement announcing the decision.
Lee is CEO and president of the Vancouver-based GSL Group, formerly RG Properties. His company owns the Royals and operates the City of Victoria-owned Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
“The COVID-19 crisis has given us the time to reassess our organization and to set a new direction,” added Lee. “We are committed to finding strong leadership that will help the Royals reach their full potential both on and off the ice.”
Lee did not return calls early Wednesday asking for more details. Hope also did not immediately return calls.
Hope is a lawyer by trade who had been assistant general manager of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League for seven seasons. He was hired as Royals general manager before the 2012-13 WHL season, replacing Marc Habscheid, and became team president in 2014.
The Royals under Hope’s guidance have never missed the playoffs. Only two other of the 22 WHL teams — Everett Silvertips and Portland Winterhawks — are able to make that claim in the span Hope has been with the Royals.
The Royals made the second round of the playoffs five times in Hope’s eight seasons, but never got beyond that. Victoria had qualified again this season before the WHL playoffs were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hope’s Royals tenure has been marked by rosters featuring solid, hardworking journeymen junior players with both offence and defence skills, but there have not been many stars. Only two Royals produced during Hope’s term have made it to the NHL: defenceman Joe Hicketts, a world junior championship gold medallist with Canada, has played 22 games with the Detroit Red Wings, while forward Noah Gregor has played 28 games with the San Jose Sharks.
In his role as president, Hope had the Royals in the top half of WHL attendance in each of his eight seasons.
There was no word from Lee as to the process to name Hope’s successor or successors in the general manager and president positions.
The Royals’ head coach, Dan Price, recently signed a contract extension for the next two seasons.
