The Trenton Golden Hawks are heading in a new direction.
The organization announced that head coach and general manager Derek Smith will be departing the franchise, along with associate coach Tyler Longo.
“Decisions of this nature are never easy, especially after a successful regular season,” the Golden Hawks said in a statement to media.
“Our standards are high, and we are committed to providing our players and our fans with a program that competes at the highest level every single year.”
Smith took over as head coach and general manager of the Trenton Golden Hawks in the 2023-24 season.
During his time with the team, he guided the Golden Hawks to three regular season East Conference titles, two playoff East Division championships, and won the Buckland Cup in the 2024-25 season.
You can read the full press release below:
The Trenton Golden Hawks organization announced today that it will be moving in a new direction regarding its coaching staff for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Effective immediately, Derek Smith and Tyler Longo will be departing from their roles within the hockey club.
The Golden Hawks organization would like to express its sincere gratitude to Derek & Tyler for their dedication, hard work, and contributions to the team over the past 3 seasons. Under their leadership, the club achieved significant milestones, including 3 regular season east conference titles, 2 playoff east division championships and of course, Buckland Cup Champs 2025.
“Decisions of this nature are never easy, especially after a successful regular season,” said the Golden Hawks Ownership and Management. “Our standards are high, and we are committed to providing our players and our fans with a program that competes at the highest level every single year.”
The landscape of Junior A hockey is shifting rapidly & with the recent NCAA and OHL rule changes, the pathway for player development has entered a new era. To remain the premier destination for elite talent, the Trenton Golden Hawks must evolve. This transition is about aligning our leadership with the modern demands of the OJHL, ensuring we are not only competing for championships but doing so with a sustainable, financially responsible model that guarantees the long-term success of hockey in the Trenton area.
Further announcements regarding the hockey operations department will be made as the process moves forward.
