The Kamloops Blazers announced Serge Lajoie as the team's new head coach.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Kamloops Blazers Hockey Club
June 25, 2018 - 10:36 AM
KAMLOOPS - The Kamloops Blazers have a new head coach.
Serge Lajoie joins the Kamloops Blazers after three seasons as head coach of the University of Alberta Golden Bears men’s hockey team, according to a media release issued by the Kamloops Blazers.
“I am very excited that Serge has agreed to be the next head coach of the Kamloops Blazers,” General Manager Matt Bardsley says in a media release. “There were a lot of qualified candidates and some very good interviews but in the end, I felt really strong about Serge.”
According to the media release, Lajoie is from Bonnyville, Alta. and played seven games with the Kamloops Blazers during the 1986 to 1987 season before playing five years with the University of Alberta. Lajoie also spent several years playing in Germany before entering the coaching profession.
“This is an excellent opportunity for me to be involved with such a strong CHL organization,” Lajoie says in the release. “There have been so many great players and coaches come through Kamloops. I am looking forward to the challenge of continuing this rich tradition of excellence.”
Lajoie will be replacing former head coach Don Hay after who announced his retirement from coaching in May. Hay remains with the club as a senior advisor of hockey operations.
Lajoie has also spent five years as an assistant coach with the University of Alberta and five years as a head coach of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology men’s team, where he led his team to two Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference championships and two silver medals.
He recently led Team Alberta to a gold medal at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, the team says. Lajoie has also worked with Hockey Canada on two occasions and served as an Assistant Coach at the 2015 Under 17 World Hockey Challenge and as an assistant coach at the 2016 Under 18 World Championships.
“Serge is an accomplished coach and we think he will be a great fit for our organization,” Blazers co-owner Tom Gaglardi says in the release.
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