Cameron Hope鈥檚 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.
鈥淲e would like to thank Cameron for contributions and for guiding our franchise,鈥� 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.
鈥淭he COVID-19 crisis has given us the time to reassess our organization and to set a new direction,鈥� added Lee. 鈥淲e are committed to finding strong leadership that will help the Royals reach their full potential both on and off the ice.鈥�
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鈥檚 guidance have never missed the playoffs. Only two other of the 22 WHL teams 鈥� Everett Silvertips and Portland Winterhawks 鈥� 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 term have made it to the NHL: defenceman Joe Hicketts, a world junior championship gold medallist with sa国际传媒, 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鈥檚 successor or successors in the general manager and president positions.
The Royals鈥� head coach, Dan Price, recently signed a contract extension for the next two seasons.
