Red Deer Vipers hire new head coach for at least two seasons

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Having coached for roughly one decade, Michalezki joked that his coaching style is not one of a dictator but rather of connecting with the players to get the most out of them.

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“You still need respect from your players and you need to be demanding but that old-school way of kicking the bucket and really harping on guys I don’t think works anymore,” he said, adding that times and the game have changed and coaches need to change along with them.

“The biggest thing I’m going to push for is a change in culture, consistency, dedication and just go back to being not only one of the more skilled teams in the league, that the Red Deer Vipers used to be, but also the hardest working team in the league; things that you can control.”

The Vipers had a difficult season this past year, finishing with a record of 12-24-2. Brady Sims, Director of Hockey Operations for the Vipers, says the team has had some instability with two different coaches over the past two years, being one reason for Michalezki’s two-year contract.

“For us, we wanted to get back to a culture and to building this organization back to where we feel it needs to be. It’s a privilege to be in this room, it’s a privilege to wear that crest. It’s not a given; it’s not a right. By having that experience with Matt the last two seasons and knowing how he’s wearing that AA program, we know that he treats that, that way,” said Sims.

Born in Calgary, Michalezki says he grew up in and around Red Deer, attending Hunting Hills High School and playing junior hockey for the Blackfalds Wranglers. He says he also played minor hockey in Red Deer, watching Vipers games with his friends on Saturday nights, especially since he knew players from the team when they won the Western Canadian Championships.

Red Deer Vipers General Manager Dale Scott says he believes Michalezki will bring structure, accountability and commitment to the Vipers this season.

In addition, the Vipers have hired Mat Togerson as a scout, as well as manager of business development & media relation.