Dan Lambert was promoted from assistant coach to head coach of the Kelowna Rockets in the wake of Ryan Huska who was hired by the Calgary Flames, June 23, 2014.
Image Credit: Kelowna Rockets
June 23, 2014 - 3:55 PM
KELOWNA - The Kelowna Rockets has promoted Dan Lambert from assistant to head coach in the wake of Ryan Huska who announced he's moving on to the Calgary Flames' farm team.
Lambert becomes the franchise's eighth head coach, bringing with him five seasons of experience as assistant coach.
This is an opportunity Ryan has deserved for many years..." Rockets president Bruce Hamilton said in a media release. "I can recall when I first met Dan Lambert. We wanted to hire someone who would be capable of taking over when Ryan's term came to an end. I couldn't be happier or more satisfied that Dan is fully prepared to be our head coach."
Lambert has been the Rocket's top assistant for five seasons. He was a considered a star player with a reputation as one of the best blueliners ever to play in the WHL, winning a Memorial Cup with Swift Current in 1989. His professional career spanned 19 years, playing for Quebec in the NHL and Germany in the DEL, the country's top league.
"To get an opportunity to be head coach of the Kelowna Rockets is a great honour," Lambert said. "I certainly have some big shoes to fill but I'm going to look at this as a challenge. This is an exciting day, not only for myself but for my whole family."
Huska leaves the Rockets to coach the Adirondack Flames with 303 regular season wins in his seven year run with the team as head coach. He won a WHL championship, two B.C. Division banners and set back-to-back franchise records for wins with 52 and 57 over the past two seasons. His teams never finished below .500.
The hiring process for the assistant coach position is now underway.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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