The Carolina Hurricanes have fired Cam Abbott from his role as head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. Assistant coach Spiros Anastas has been appointed as interim head coach. The move comes despite the team's solid standing in the Central Division.
The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Friday evening that they have relieved Cam Abbott of his duties as head coach of the Chicago Wolves, their American Hockey League affiliate. This decision marks a significant change mid-season for the team, which currently holds a record of 11-7-3-1, accumulating 26 points and sitting tied for third in the Central Division with a playoff berth in sight.
Abbott, a Canadian coach, had been with the Wolves for just over one and a half seasons. Prior to this role, he achieved notable success with Rögle in Sweden, where he served as head coach alongside his brother Chris, who was the sports director. The brothers departed Rögle at the end of 2023, and exactly two years later, on the same date, Cam Abbott finds himself without a job again. However, Chris Abbott remains part of the Hurricanes' sporting organization.
In a statement, the organization confirmed: "The organization has relieved @Chicago_Wolves Head Coach Cam Abbott of his duties. Assistant Coach Spiros Anastas will serve as interim head coach for Chicago."
Anastas, 40, joined the Wolves' coaching staff on August 28, 2024, and contributed to their Calder Cup Playoffs appearance last season. The Toronto native brings a wealth of experience, including head coaching stints with the ECHL's Brampton Beast and South Carolina Stingrays, as well as at the University of Lethbridge. He has also coached international teams for Greece, China, Serbia, Estonia, and South Korea, and served as a scout for the AHL's Manitoba Moose. Notably, Anastas won a Calder Cup championship as an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013.
This firing underscores the Hurricanes' decision to act despite the Wolves' competitive performance, leaving Abbott to seek new opportunities.
