The Lethbridge Hurricanes have announced a move in their front office.
The Western Hockey League team said Barclay Parneta has been named General Manager of Hockey Operations, signing a multi-year contract with the club.
“Barclay’s familiarity with the organization and the club’s hockey operations provided valuable continuity when he assumed the interim general manager duties in January,” said Doug Paisley, president of the board of directors.
“Over the past six months, he has demonstrated his ability to work effectively with player agents and fellow league general managers to sign prospects and complete trades that has strengthened the team.”
The 55-year-old Parneta was hired by the team as a senior advisory in September 2025, before he took on the interim general manager role in January 2026.
The club said the Saskatoon product has been a key cog in moving the Hurricanes organization forward through the signings of players like Dayne Beuker, Logan Stuart, Jake Stuart and others in preparation for the 2026-27 regular season.
“I would like to thank the board of directors for the opportunity to serve as general manager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes,” said Parneta. “I appreciate the confidence they have shown in me, and I look forward to continuing the work we have started together since I was named interim general manager in January.”
Before joining Lethbridge, Parneta served as the general manager of the Vancouver Giants for seven seasons, from 2018 to 2025.
In that time, he helped guide Vancouver to the WHL playoffs in all five years in which the playoffs were held. This was highlighted by a Western Conference Championship in 2019, before the Giants lost to the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL Championship Series.
In his seven seasons with Vancouver, Parneta earned a regular season record of 210-178-29-7, and captured the 2018-19 BC Division title.
Prior to joining the Giants, Parneta spent parts of 18 seasons with the Tri-City Americans in two stints, working as a development coach, scout, head scout, and assistant general manager.
Parneta also served as an amateur scout for the NHL’s St. Louis Blues for five years from 2003 to 2008, along with three years with the Phoenix Coyotes from 2007 to 2010 before he returned to the Americans as a development coach and head scout.
“I want to thank my family, and especially my wife, for her unwavering support throughout my career,” he stated.
“I would also like to thank Pete Anholt for bringing me into the Hurricanes organization. Finally, I want to thank our fans and the Lethbridge community. The support this team receives is something our players and staff never take for granted. We are committed to building a team that competes the right way, represents the city with price, and gives our fans something to be proud of every time we take to the ice.”
On the international stage, Parneta has represented Canada at different levels, including leading Team Canada White as general manager to a gold medal at the 2024 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He was also the management lead for Team Canada Red at the 2023 U17 tournament, while serving on the Hockey Canada Advisory Committee between 2018 and 2025 for the U17, U18, and U20 levels.
Parneta also has experience as a player, having appeared in three WHL games with the Seattle Thunderbirds during the 1986-87 season.
He spent three seasons from 1987 to 1990 in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Abbotsford Falcons, Chilliwack Eagles, and Ladner Penguins, scoring 37 goals and recording 39 assists, along with 313 penalty minutes in 123 regular season games.
The Hurricanes are set to open their 2026 training camp on Thursday, Aug. 27 at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the club will start the preseason by hosting the Medicine Hat Tigers in the first of a four-game exhibition schedule. Lethbridge will open the 2026-27 regular season on Friday, Sept. 18 on home ice against the Tigers.
