Father of former Rockets player on trial for sexual assault appointed Canucks head coach

Adam Foote, father of Cal Foote, who is currently on trial for sexual assault, was named coach of the Vancouver Canucks today.

Cal and his team mate, Dillon Dube, were charged in connection to an alleged incident that happened after a Hockey Canada event in the southern Ontario city in June 2018.

The five players were all members of the Canadian World Junior team, captained by Dube. The other three players allegedly involved were Michael McLeod of the New Jersey Devils, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers and Alex Formenton, formerly of the Ottawa Senators.

The five players are accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a hotel.

According to court documents, the complainant met some of the players at a downtown bar after the event and claims she left the bar with one man who she had consensual sex with. However, she alleged that the man invited other players to the room without her consent to have sex with her.

None of the allegations made against the players have been proven in court.

The Canucks announced today that Adam Foote, age 53, will be replacing Rick Tocchet, who stepped down as Canucks coach on April 29, 2025.

Adam was an assistant for the past three seasons, and the NHL notes that his only previous head coaching experience was two seasons in Kelowna with the WHL from 2018 to 2020.

Adam was fired as the Kelowna Rockets head coach in February 2020. General manager Bruce Hamilton said at the time that the team had been struggling since Christmas break, and that with 14 games remaining in the regular season, "a change was necessary."

The charges against his son and teammate became known publicly at the start of 2024.

"Adam is a strong leader, good teacher and person who knows what it takes to build a great culture and winning attitude," Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said.

"His past experiences on the ice have translated nicely into a coaching style that fits our organization's goals and vision. He has worked extremely hard the past few years, gaining our players' respect and trust for his strong communication and honest straight forward opinion.”

Allvin added that Adam will bring, “structure, accountability and a detail oriented approach to his coaching, a process that will send a clear message to our group about the way we want to compete, practice, and play hockey.”

Adam played 19 NHL seasons as a defenceman with the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets. He won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996 and 2001.

He also helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. He had 308 points (66 goals, 242 assists) in 1,154 regular-season games and 42 points (seven goals, 35 assists) in 170 playoff games. Foote also was the final active player to have skated for the Nordiques when he retired in 2010.

"This is a guy that coaches his defencemen, coaches his players, like he'd want his kids coached," Canucks captain Quinn Hughes said in February. "And then on top of that, with all the experience he has."