by – David MacPherson
The Cambridge Redhawks are heeding the advice doled out in the Old English rhyme: “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,”— well, at least three-quarters of this sage advice—supposed to bring new brides good luck.
Cambridge, ON – The old: the Galt Arena Gardens. The team’s home rink opened in 1922 and this special building is the oldest arena in North America to operate continuously as a hockey venue. The new: management. The RedHawks were purchased at the end of the 2024 season by the ownership group behind the Brantford Bandits and last month they announced the hiring of retired National Hockey League (NHL) power forward Todd Bertuzzi as their new head coach.
As for the “something borrowed, something blue,” the team is borrowing a simple playbook used by successful teams in all sports that relies on the fundamentals and focusing on player development on – and off – the ice. Since the team’s colors are red and white, “something blue” does not fit.
On the ice this past season the RedHawks finished 27-18-4-1— losing to the Fort Erie Meteors in six games in the first round of the GOJHL playoffs. Bertuzzi was hired to build on this momentum. “With over 1,100 games of NHL experience, Todd brings a great deal of hockey knowledge to our organization,” says Rob McIntosh, the RedHawks’ president and part owner.
The OHA chats with Todd on a mid-May day. The 50-year-old just returned from his daily dose of Mother Nature. The retired professional hockey player says he enjoys a hike each day “just to kick start the morning” and “to get his brain working.”
Todd is excited to put his brain to good use starting this summer—and share his hockey IQ knowledge with potential future OHL and NHL players. “I’m excited to get that Cambridge rink rocking!”
The new RedHawks’ head coach inherits a young team he feels will be “energetic, fast, and hard hitting.” This new coaching gig was a couple of years in the making. “I’ve been retired for 10 years now and I took four years to coach my son Tag through Bantam and Midget hockey,” Todd says. “I’ve been watching the RedHawks for a while now and figured it was time to get back on the bench and help this great organization.”
The New York Islanders first-round draft pick in 1993, who played for six teams during his NHL career, recently returned to Kitchener, Ontario. He is busy renovating a condo near Deer Ridge Golf Club where he is a member. In between settling into these new digs, the RedHawks’ bench boss is making sure to play some golf and enjoy family time because he knows, come August, all his focus will be on getting his team prepared for the 2025-26 GOJHL season.
Asked what the biggest challenge is to coaching players at this level, Todd says it’s relating to the kids and helping them to further develop both their hockey skills and life skills, so they are prepared for whatever path comes when their tenure with the RedHawks ends.
“There’s been such a lack of overall development with the game and with these kids,” he says. “That’s an area where I believe I can have a huge impact.”
Rob McIntosh concurs that developing these teenagers for success post-hockey is just as important for the RedHawks’ organization as developing their prowess with the puck.
“Our goal is to make a difference in these young men’s lives,” Rob says. “Whether it is to develop their hockey careers, or set them up for their education, or both. We are a development league, but that means so much more for us than just what happens on the ice.”
The RedHawks’ Roost
As mentioned, the Galt Arena Gardens is a historic and special place. “Saturday nights there when the arena is packed is something every hockey player at this level needs to experience!” says Rob McInosh.
For Todd, the RedHawks’ home arena was one of the selling points of the coaching job. “That arena is something that really motivated me to come back,” he says. “We’re going to build a team around that arena and make it a hard place for opponents to play in.”
The rest of Todd’s coaching staff is set to be announced shortly, but working alongside the rest of the RedHawks’ management team, he has assembled a group of hockey veterans that share his coaching philosophy based on two-way play.
“I’m obviously an offensive guy, so I’ll give my players a leash offensively, but I also want to make sure that they are responsible defensively,” he concludes. “This team is going to play 200 feet and we will teach them how to play both ways properly. You see a lot of kids overwork and over backcheck, but it’s really pretty simple … you just have to be in the right place and in the right position in order to defend.”
Todd Bertuzzi Fast Facts
NHL games played: 1,159
Teams: New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames
Goals: 314
Assists: 456
Points: 770
NHL First-Team All Star (2003)
Cambridge also has a strong history in Senior Hockey. Read more here – Cambridge Hornets: A Look at Their History
About the Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) was founded on November 27, 1890, and is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior hockey in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is a Member Partner of the Ontario Hockey Federation which is one of thirteen Provincial and Regional Branches of Hockey Canada.
It is comprised of three Junior hockey leagues and two Senior hockey leagues: Junior A – Ontario Junior Hockey League; Junior B – Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League; Junior C – Provincial Junior Hockey League, Senior –Allan Cup Hockey (AAA) and Ontario Elite Hockey League(AA). For the 2024-25 season, these five leagues encompass 125 teams.
The objectives of the OHA are to foster and encourage the sport of amateur hockey, to conduct competition in the various categories established, to determine teams for entry into the inter-branch competitions that may be provided by Hockey Canada, and to provide for the affiliation of other hockey organizations.
The OHA provides administrative resources, coordinates programs, services and events for hockey participants and provides support to various Development Programs for coaches, officials, trainers and players, Safety and Risk Management Issues and offers resources for Harassment and Abuse education.
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For more information or to set up an interview, please contact:
Chris McCleary
General Manager, Operations & Marketing
Ontario Hockey Association
