The Comox Valley Glacier Kings are in the market for a new coach/general manager.

After four years with the team, Mike Nesbitt resigned on Wednesday, May 15, to take the same position with the Elliot Lake Vikings of the North Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The NOJHL is a junior A league and a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

鈥淚 wanted to get to junior A level, with the CJHL鈥� I am originally from Ontario, so when the job became available, I applied for it and I got it,鈥� said Nesbitt. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to it. I鈥檓 five hours from Toronto and I am a huge Leafs fan, a huge Jays fan, so I will be spending a lot of time with my family in Toronto.鈥�

Nesbitt鈥檚 success with the Comox Valley Glacier Kings has been well documented.

When Nesbitt came to the Comox Valley in May of 2020, he became the fifth head coach of the team since September of 2017. The team had just missed the playoffs in the nine-team Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League for the third straight season.

The Glacier Kings had also finished dead last in the league for the third straight season, registering only nine wins in 48 games. The previous two seasons were both four-win seasons.

He came here with a vision for the team. He said off the start he was going to change things up. His impact was almost immediate. The team made the playoffs every season he was in the Valley, and the Comox Valley was a desirable hockey environment for junior players, once again.

鈥�(My time here) was very satisfying - I love the Valley, I love the fans, I love all the support - I am going to miss it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel very accomplished on my job with the Comox Valley Glacier Kings the last four years鈥� putting the fans back in the stands at the arena, bringing good hockey players, exciting hockey players - it was a fun experience.鈥�

He gave a shout-out to the ownership team.

鈥淚 loved working for Marsha (Webb), Dave (Webb) and Iris (Churchill) - they were great to me,鈥� he said.

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The feeling is mutual.

鈥淢ike was like a son to me - I absolutely love him, I adore him, I love his family - but I understand he has to (do what鈥檚 best for him),鈥� said Marsha Webb.

Webb said that while Nesbitt鈥檚 departure wasn鈥檛 expected, it did not come as a total surprise either.

鈥淢ike was not overly enthused about the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League making the decision to go independent from BC Hockey/Hockey Canada,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o in that respect, I wasn鈥檛 surprised. We have had a lot of dialogue over the last just about eight months. I don鈥檛 want to say that was the deciding factor, but I think (it played a part).鈥�

The Webbs remain optimistic about the future of their franchise.

The way I look at it, change is good,鈥� said Marsha. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to reflect, and look ahead. This whole thing with independence is an adventure. It鈥檚 something so new - new ideas, new ways to look at things.鈥�

Webb added that the solid foundation Nesbitt brought to the organization has made the position a more attractive one, and it鈥檚 reflected on the number of applications they have already received.

鈥淥h I think so, I think any job like this, commitment is huge and he was so committed, committed to the program, committed to the community - that is so important. So that鈥檚 why right now we are working through a mound of resumes.鈥�

For more information on the job posting, interested applicants are asked to reach out to the ownership team via email at officeglacierkings@gmail.com

She said the ownership team will take its time picking the right fit for the community.

鈥淲e have to take our time. We have to do our due diligence. We love this community. This is our passion. We love the Comox Valley to the nth degree and the person that we bring on has to be the heart and the face of the community. They have to buy in. We don鈥檛 want someone to come in for the wrong reasons.鈥�

Webb wished the best for Nesbitt and his family, but did offer this piece of insight.

鈥淗aving been born and raised in Northern Ontario, I think he鈥檚 going to find it very hard to replace 鈥楶aradise Island.鈥欌��