Must win? Could have gone either way right up to the ninth unanswered Hitmen goal!

http://www.whl.ca/schedule/show/game/62537

At the end of four years of rebuilding while making all the decisions, and in a "must win" situation for his team,  Rich Preston's team takes a 0-9 drubbing at the hands of the Calgary Hitmen.

Really?  This is how the Hurricanes bench boss inspires his club to achieve greatness in a "must win" game?  Was this goaltender also "the best in the league?"

Absolutely disgraceful!  And leave your #1 netminder in for 8 goals?!  You have ONE win in your past ten with Rimmer in net.  How much worse do you think it is going to hurt your chances if your backup plays once in a while?  What exactly does this coach DO on the bench... other than to call time-outs prior to 5-on-3s only to pace on the bench for 30 seconds while his 4th from worst in the league "PP line" has a rest.

If I was a Lethbridge Hurricane board member that cared about the ongoing viability of this club (and I hope and expect that they all care), I would/should be considering what GM in the WHL would keep a coach with a four year record as bad as Rich Preston's.   The season is not officially over yet, but it looks like the Canes will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.  No team in the Western conference has missed the playoffs these four straight years.   No team in the Eastern conference has missed the playoffs these four years. 

If after the Canes are mathematically eliminated from 2012-2013 playoff contention,  Rich Preston does not announce that he is stepping down as coach and beginning the search for a qualified successor, then the board should have grounds to terminate him (without penalty) for breach of contract.

Thankfully for Rich Preston and his Hurricanes, the Spokane Chiefs were able to defeat the Kootenay Ice in regulation, keeping his playoff hopes alive for one more game.