The Brantford Bulldogs have named Michael Babcock the sixth head coach in franchise history, making the 31-year-old the youngest person to lead the Ontario Hockey League Club. The announcement was made Saturday by Bulldogs general manager Spencer Hyman. Babcock arrives in Brantford after spending the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls. His hockey journey began in Michigan, where he played for the Little Caesars AAA program and Detroit Catholic Central before joining the U.S. National Team Development Program. He later captained the Fargo Force in the USHL and spent four seasons at Merrimack College, earning a business degree while serving as team captain. After a professional playing stint in France, where he won the French Cup with Amiens in 2019-20, Babcock transitioned into coaching. His coaching résumé includes two seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Saskatchewan while earning an MBA, a development role with the Ottawa Senators, two seasons as skills coach with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues and the past season with San Diego. Babcock is the son of former NHL coach Mike Babcock, who won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and Olympic gold medals with Canada in 2010 and 2014. The Bulldogs will formally introduce Babcock during a press conference June 9 at the TD Civic Centre.
