Derrick Martin Takes Helm as Rockets Head Coach in High-Stakes Memorial Cup Year
The Kelowna Rockets have made a major leadership shift just ahead of their Memorial Cup campaign, and it’s generating a lot of buzz in the WHL world. The team has officially named Derrick Martin as head coach, removing the interim tag that he carried since January. Alongside him, legendary coach Don Hay has been brought on board as associate coach—a move that signals serious ambition for the upcoming season.
Let me tell you, this is big. Martin steps into the role as the 12th head coach in franchise history, and while the end of last season didn’t go the way anyone hoped—the Rockets went 4-27-2-1 after his mid-season promotion—the organization is clearly betting on his long-term potential. He’s young, yes, but he’s already shown promise. Before joining the Rockets in 2024, Martin was the general manager and head coach of the Camrose Kodiaks and even led Team Alberta to gold at the 2024 WHL Cup.
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Martin himself addressed last season’s challenges head-on at the press conference, saying he’s not here to make excuses. Instead, he focused on growth and reflection, highlighting his offseason efforts to improve both personally and within the team. “A good coach is someone who self-reflects,” he said. That kind of honesty is refreshing—and probably part of what won him respect in the locker room.
But the biggest headline-stealer might just be Don Hay joining as associate coach. Hay is the WHL’s all-time winningest coach, with 750 victories under his belt. He’s won four Memorial Cups, six WHL championships, and has coached in the NHL, AHL, and all over the WHL for over three decades. This move isn’t just about adding a veteran presence—it’s about setting the tone for a championship run.
Interestingly, Hay is coming full circle in a way. This season, he’ll coach Tij Iginla—son of NHL Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla—whom Hay coached back in his first year as a WHL head coach. That kind of legacy and experience is invaluable.
With the Memorial Cup hosted in Kelowna this year, the pressure is on. But with Martin’s hunger and Hay’s elite-level mentorship, the Rockets are positioning themselves not just to compete, but to win. There are still a lot of roster decisions to come—the CHL Import Draft is just days away—but this coaching shake-up feels like a massive step in the right direction.
Martin summed it up best when he said, “I’m excited to start this year with a clean slate and a new standard.” And with Hay at his side, that standard could very well be a championship one.
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