Photo credit: NHL

Controversial former Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi has landed a head coaching job in his home province of Ontario for the 2025-26 season.

While the Vancouver Canucks are continuing to figure out Rick Tocchet’s future with the club, whether that’s an extension or sticking with his option for 2025-26, one of their former players has landed a coaching gig of his own.

Todd Bertuzzi, who spent parts of eight seasons in Vancouver and has a bit of coaching experience from 2015 to 2017 at the U16 level, has been named the new head coach of an Ontario junior team.

Todd Bertuzzi named head coach of Ontario junior team

In a post on social media on Monday, the Cambridge RedHawks, who play in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League – Junior B league as per the OHA, have named Todd Bertuzzi as their next head coach.

“🚨 ATTENTION REDHAWKS FANS! 🚨
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE NEST
Please join us in giving a warm RedHawks welcome to our new Head Coach for the 2025-2026 season…

🏒 Todd Bertuzzi 🦅

We’re excited for what’s ahead-let’s go RedHawks!” the Cambridge RedHawks announced on X.

The RedHawks had a pretty good season in the GOJHL, finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 27-18-4-1 record, setting up a first round date with the Fort Erie Meteors, where they fell in six games.

Bertuzzi, 50, has plenty of hockey ties to the Cambridge, Ontario region as just 30 minutes northeast is Guelph, where he spent his four-year OHL career with the Storm.

The Sudbury, Ontario native had 449 points (188 goals, 261 assists) in 518 games with Vancouver, but his time with the Canucks will always be overshadowed due to the Steve Moore incident in 2004 which landed Bertuzzi a suspension for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.

It’s going to be a big challenge for the long-time NHL forward as he begins his coaching career and we’ll see where it takes him, but potentially a role behind the bench in the Ontario Hockey League could be in the cards in the years ahead.