The Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League have hired Michael Babcock, the son of veteran NHL coach Mike Babcock, as the sixth and youngest head coach in franchise history. The team announced the move on Friday, marking a significant leadership change after Jay McKee left to become head coach of the American Hockey League’s Hamilton Hammers before their first season. Babcock, 31, inherits a Bulldogs team that was among the OHL’s strongest last season and will be expected to continue that momentum.
McKee guided Brantford to a 48-10-10 record, the best mark in the league during the regular season. The Bulldogs, however, fell short of the championship series after a dramatic postseason run ended in the Eastern Conference Final. Brantford held a 3-1 series lead over the Barrie Colts before Barrie rallied to win three straight games and take the series in seven. Despite the disappointment, the Bulldogs entered the offseason with a reputation as one of the league’s top programs.
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Bulldogs general manager Spencer Hyman praised Babcock as the right fit to lead the organization into its next phase. In a statement, Hyman described him as a competitive, communicative teacher with a strong commitment to player development and personal growth. Hyman said Babcock’s approach to the game, his ability to connect with players, and his focus on helping them improve on and off the ice aligned with the team’s values.
Babcock arrives in Brantford after serving most recently as an assistant coach with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. Under head coach Matt McIlvane, the Gulls finished 33-27-12 and earned the final playoff berth in the Pacific Division before losing in the opening round. Before that, Babcock worked as a skills coach with the St. Louis Blues and as an assistant development coach with the Ottawa Senators. His first bench coaching role came in the 2021-22 season, when he served as an assistant coach at the University of Saskatchewan alongside his father.
His father, Mike Babcock, remains one of the most accomplished coaches in hockey history. Over a 17-year NHL coaching career with the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, he compiled a 700-418-164 record with 19 ties. He is the only coach to be part of hockey’s Triple Gold Club, winning the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008, Olympic gold with Canada in 2010 and 2014, and a World Championship in 2004.
Mike Babcock later accepted the Columbus Blue Jackets’ head coaching job in 2023 but resigned before coaching a game after a report raised concerns about his conduct toward players. Michael Babcock now takes over a prominent junior hockey program with high expectations and a chance to establish himself as a head coach at the next level.
