With every new season, comes new players, new equipment and many times, a new staff. This is not the case with the 24-25 edition of the Seattle Totems as they announced that Mike Butters would return as their Head Coach for the upcoming season.

While it was both speculated and rumored that last season would be Butters only season behind the Totems bench, General Manager, Michael Murphy said Butters was returning for one more season. “We are excited that we can say that Coach Butters will return as our Head Coach this season. After speaking with him several times over the summer and numerous conversations he had with returning players, I think he decided that retirement could wait one more year.” 

Coach Butters has been a fixture in hockey for most of his adult life, spending most of his time in either the junior or professional ranks. His resume is rich with experiences at almost every position imaginable and his tenure includes time in leagues from youth hockey all the way to the National Hockey League. Butters calls Seattle home and his return to the Emerald City was, in his words, both difficult and easy at the same time. “It is true I contemplated stepping aside after last season. When I originally spoke to Murph, it was only supposed to be one year. I was tasked with both getting his team back to nationals and mentoring a coach who could take over the team, moving forward. While I felt our coaching staff was ready, they wanted one more year to work together. Add to that, the returning players really wanted to keep their group together for another run and asked that I remain. While there were so many outside factors that go into a decision like this, I decided to keep going for another season."

Coach Butters will have his coaching staff in tact as Cannon Rogers, Jason Waram and Mike Savidge return for the season, which Butters says is a huge asset. Rogers will have a new title as he was named Associate Coach immediately following the announcement of Butters’ return. “Cannon is a good, young coach, who has a future in the game. He understands today’s player and has both the character and work ethic to succeed behind the bench. Butters added that all his coaches will take a more active role this season. “All of the coaches will take a much more active role in the day to day of preparing our team this year. When I approached them with the plan, which included more from them, they were all on board. They are all qualified, capable and ready. Funny thing, I think they were always ready. It is really me who is ready to let some things go."

As for the team Coach Butters and his staff have put together, he says both the look and character has changed dramatically. “I don’t know how I thought we could build the team we want in one short season. We planted a lot of seeds with our scouts, advisors and recruiters, last season, as to the type of players that we feel we want here in Seattle.  When I jumped in last season, I thought every contact I had would come through with players. In reality, it took a year. Our scouting staff came through with some real gems. Add to that we cleansed our group of the selfish players and bad attitudes and questionable character guys and here we are with a great starting group of players. All want to be here and all I believe to have the character needed to succeed in the game."

With the Totems Open Tryouts about to start tomorrow, Coach Butters and his staff will have little time to reflect on their return and get to work at putting the final touches on their opening day roster. Camp starts this Friday and runs through Sunday at OVA.