The Vancouver Giants are expected to appoint former head coach Michael Dyck as their general manager and head coach in the coming days, according to multiple WHL sources. Dyck, 57, previously coached the Giants from 2018 to 2023, guiding them to the WHL championship series in 2019 with a team featuring standout defenceman Bowen Byram. He left Vancouver after the 2022-23 season to become an assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dyck's Recent Success with the Marlies
Dyck spent three seasons with the Marlies, culminating in a Calder Cup championship on Friday night. The Marlies defeated the Chicago Wolves 4-3 in Game 5 to win the best-of-seven series. Dyck was in the final year of his contract with the Marlies. The Maple Leafs underwent significant front-office changes after firing general manager Brad Treliving in March and hiring John Chayka in May, which often leads to sweeping organizational shifts.
Previous Attempts to Bring Dyck Back
The Giants first approached Dyck last summer for the dual role after parting ways with GM Barclay Parneta and coach Manny Viveiros. However, the two sides could not reach an agreement, leading the Giants to hire Hnat Domenichelli as GM and Parker Burgess as head coach. The 2024-25 season proved disappointing for Vancouver, as they lost six of their first eight games and never regained consistent form. They finished 25-39-2-2, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17 and recording 22 fewer points than the previous season. Domenichelli resigned and Burgess was fired on consecutive days in April.
Dyck's History and Family Ties
Dyck's family has remained in the Lower Mainland during his tenure with the Marlies. His daughter, Bailey, works as a marketing and advertising assistant for the Giants. During his previous stint from 2018 to 2023, Dyck compiled a regular-season record of 144-120-17-7 and a playoff record of 21-17. This will be his fourth tour with the Giants, having previously served as an assistant coach (2002-05) and as a scout and director of player development (2009-12).
