Hamlin still receiving accolades for coaching

By C. Scott Holland

Most know him either from teaching, or as a hockey coach.

In both areas, he aims to have his students excel and his coaching methods have produced a slew of accolades.

Over the course of his career, Kevin Hamlin’s involvement in the sport of hockey is one to marvel at, as his success and that of his players is measured by the multitude of honours.

His career began to rise as a player as he played with London, Peterborough and Windsor of the OHL, and had a brief stint with the Flint Spirit of the IHL. From there, he attended the University of Toronto, where he obtained his BA (in physical education) and then got his teaching BA at the University of Windsor.

His coaching career began with a single year as an assistant coach at Cornell, then two years with the University of Windsor, and then with the Belle River (now known as Lakeshore) Jr. C Canadiens.

By 1994-95, he had won the Jr. C coach of the year with Belle River, as that team rang up an incredible 38-0-1-1 record.

His goal as a coach — and as a teacher — is to provide a positive environment for players and students to excel.

“You need to give a player room to be an individual, as each player contributes to a team in a different way,” he said at the time.

Kevin Hamlin is seen in action in the late 1990s working with a youngster at the Kirk Bowman Hockey School.

He coached the Jr. B Leamington Flyers from 1997 through 1999.

Hamlin’s list of accomplishments is astounding. He’s coached at many levels including Jr. C, Jr. B, high school, college and university levels, as well as being an instructor at the Kirk Bowman Hockey School for a number of years. He’s been a top coach at the Canadian collegiate level for the last two decades and won two OUA provincial titles and one Queen’s Cup, plus participated at the U Sports national championship.

Locally, he’s won a WESPY (Windsor-Essex Sports Person(s) of Year) award and a Gino Fracas Award from the University of Windsor.

In February 2019, he was named the head coach for Team Canada and the team took home a bronze medal in the 2019 Winter University games.

He spent seven years as head coach of the St. Clair College Men’s hockey team and has been the University of Windsor Men’s hockey team head coach since 2008-09. His record with the university is 104-74-14, including a #5 ranking in all of Canada in 2013-14 and a 2014-15 OUA Coach of the Year honour.