KELOWNA – The expectations couldn’t have been higher for the Kelowna Rockets this season and the club’s trio of rookie coaches hasn’t disappointed. The Rockets didn’t break last season’s record-setting 57 wins, but still finished with 53 wins and steamrolled through the playoffs, sweeping the WHL final.
“It’s surreal to be honest with you,” says head coach Dan Lambert.
Lambert was named bench boss after Ryan Huska was called up to the American Hockey League, offered a head coaching job for the Calgary Flames farm team in Adirondack.
The Rockets didn’t look far to fill the assistant coaching job, hiring Vernon Vipers coach and former Kelowna Rocket, Kris Mallette.
“This is awesome. It’s so cliché, but it’s a dream come true from the start getting the job,” says Mallette.
The final piece to the puzzle was hiring goalie coach Travis Crickard. Crickard came to the Rockets after two seasons behind the bench in the OHL.
The coaches admit it’s been a learning curve, but they’ve learned throughout the season together.
“We just kind of bonded and became these three brothers if you will so much fun coming to the office everyday with these guys,” says Crickard.
- Life in the forest: How Stanley Park’s longest resident survived a changing landscape
- ‘Love at first sight’: Snow leopard at Toronto Zoo pregnant for 1st time
- Buzz kill? Gen Z less interested in coffee than older Canadians, survey shows
- Carbon rebate labelling in bank deposits fuelling confusion, minister says
Comments