He has a new title - and with it, more responsibility.

And based on his record over the past two seasons, Coquitlam Express head coach and newly minted general manager Jon Calvano is up to the task.

After leading the B.C. Hockey League squad to a top-four conference playoff spot this past season, Calvano was rewarded with the GM title last week and all the responsibilities for acquisitions and signings. He succeeds club president and governor Darcy Rota, who relinquished the post after 11 seasons.

"It is extra responsibility, for sure," Calvano told The NOW in a telephone interview from Toronto, where he was spending some time with family and on a recruiting mission.

"I think it's a sign that we've made good progress over the past two years, that there's a good appreciation of the working relationship we've established, and that Darcy felt it was time to maybe relax a little more.

"Nothing will change that much. I will continue to be aggressive in recruiting (new talent) and building relationships in the hockey world."

Calvano had a hand in all player recruitment and trades over the first two years under his previous title of director of hockey operations.

Last year, the rewards of his labour came in newcomers like locals Alexander Kerfoot and Jace Hennig, Ontario's Mitch Nardi and Jason Bird, and Americans John Siemer, Brady Shaw, Joona Kunnas and Cole Huggins.

With all of them expected to return along with potentially six other veterans, the room for tinkering appears limited. But Calvano is taking a proactive approach this summer and has already inked a big piece for the upcoming season.

His connections in Ontario have once again paid off with a big signing, with the announcement that defenceman Callum Hofford of the Hill Academy has committed for 2012-13.

Two years ago after his appointment as head coach, Calvano scooped up Massimo Lamacchia, who ended up leading the team in scoring and earning a scholarship to Brown University. A year ago, the club clinched the trade for Nardi.

This time around, Hofford is the big prize. The 18-year-old Woodbridge, Ont., native posted 19 goals and 42 assists over 64 games, while accumulating 76 penalty minutes for the Toronto-based academy.

With veteran blueliner Clinton Atkinson graduating, finding a mobile, puck-savvy contributor on defence was a top priority. Calvano believes he aced it early.

Widely recruited by B.C. and Ontario junior A clubs, Hofford has already secured a plum full-ride scholarship to Northern Michigan University for 2013-14.

"Getting Cal Hofford was a big get for us, he was on every team's radar," noted Calvano. "I've known him since he was 10 years old, and known his father when he was with the London Knights organization."

The Coquitlam coach-GM said he continues to look for key additions for the squad, with areas of need being forwards who can play a physical game and depth at all positions.

The club also has assets to use in trades - possibly a netminder, since both Khaleed Devji and Huggins are coming off good seasons and entering their final year of junior eligibility.

Calvano wouldn't speculate on any possible moves, but agreed that there will be changes to the lineup between now and September.

"We've got a few [players] we've been talking to and some we feel are interested - we should have some announcements to make in the near future," said Calvano. "We will be making some additions and changes."

The club has already hosted two tryout camps, for prospects and bantam-aged players. Calvano said he's made sure that the Western Hockey League's No. 1 overall bantam draft pick, Mathew Barzal, a Coquitlam native, is aware of the club's program.

"I coached Mathew since he was nine years old so I'm hopeful that he'll give us a lot of consideration," noted Calvano.

The club also announced the acquisition of 18-year-old defenceman Braden Pears from Salmon Arm, as the future considerations coming back from the Taylor Love deal last December.

Pears, a six-foot-one Victoria native, has three years experience in the BCHL, posting three goals and two assists last year over 40 games.

sports@thenownews.com