In what was a very quiet search for a head coach compared to the last go around in 2007, the search ended today with the club looking no further than it's own doorstep to fill the position. 31-year-old Kris Knoblauch was announced as the franchise's fifth head coach, replacing Mark Holick who took a position with the Syracuse Crunch, the AHL-affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks.
I like the hiring in that, unless a Don Hay-type walks through the door, promoting from within and presenting some new faces in the WHL does more for the franchise and league than just recycling past names. Jesse Wallin in Red Deer, Ryan Huska in Kelowna, Hiller with the TCA and Shawn Clouston in the Hat and now with Knoblauch along with others make up a new crop of coaches throughout the league. Though, curiously, Chynoweth made a point in a story with Matt Coxford of the Townsman in late May that Knoblauch would not be the coach. Something, obviously, changed in that assessment.
Here's the release:
Cranbrook, BC -- Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club, today announced the Club has promoted Assistant Coach Kris Knoblauch (knob-lock) to be the fifth Head Coach in franchise history. Knoblauch, who has signed a two year contract with a club option for a third year replaces Mark Holick who was named Head Coach of the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League in May.
“After going through the numerous applicants for the Head Coaching position the decision to promote Kris was ultimately an easy one as he has been with the Hockey Club for three years and has worked in the Western Hockey League for the past four years. The philosophy of our organization is to hire and promote from within wherever possible. Kris is very familiar with our returning group of players which will make the transition from Assistant to Head Coach that much easier,” continued Chynoweth.
“When I came here three years ago it was one of my goals to someday be a Head Coach in the WHL. To be named as bench boss for an organization that gave me an opportunity and has moved on as many coaches as they have to professional hockey is definitely a huge honor. I look forward to the many challenges that lie ahead, but know the foundation is definitely in place to continue on with the winning tradition,” commented Kris Knoblauch.
Kris Knoblauch played three seasons in the WHL and was a member of both the Edmonton (1997-1998) and Kootenay ICE (1998-1999) organizations. He also played with the Red Deer Rebels (1996-1997) and Lethbridge Hurricanes (1998-1999). Upon graduating from the WHL he went on to play five years at the University of Alberta and was a member of the 1999-2000 Golden Bears team that won the CIS Championship. Kris achieved a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta. Prior to joining the ICE he was an Assistant Coach with the Prince Albert Raiders for one season (2006-2007).
Kris Knoblauch is a 31-year-old native of Imperial, Saskatchewan. He and his wife Autumn are the parents of one son – Marek (2).
Some other league thoughts....
Couple of trades coming down the pipe in recent days as the Rebels dealt disgruntled former first round Bantam pick (2nd overall - 2006 behind Spokane D Jared Cowen) Landon Ferraro, 18,(Ferraro turns 19 August 8) to the Everett Silvertips in exchange for 19-year-old forward Bryon Froese and a third round bantam pick in 2012. There's also a conditional pick headed to Everett in 2012 likely in case Froese plays as a 20-year-old and Ferraro, a Detroit Red Wing second round pick, doesn't.
This one was only a matter of time since Ferraro, who fought injuries all season long, and Rebels head coach and GM Jesse Wallin didn't see eye-to-eye as the season progressed, culminating in Ferraro's much publicized line-up scratch in the Rebel's last game in their first round loss to the Blades this past spring. Those hoping he'd be in a Ice uniform hopefully didn't hold their breath as rarely are players of this calibre traded to a team you'll face 6-8 times the next season. Froese is a good, solid pick-up for the Rebels who was a list walk-on for the Tips but the Manitoba product doesn't replace the potential scoring threat of a healthy Ferraro.
In the Hat the club that former Ice head coach Cory Clouton's brother Shawn is now in charge of took another step to becoming a contender this season with the acquisition of forward Ryan Harrison, 18, from the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for two prospects - 17-yr-old forward Todd Fiddler, defenceman Austin Bourhis, 18, and a 2012 4th round bantam pick. Bourhis is a D-man who played in the SJHL last season for Yorkton while Fiddler ripped up the Saskatchewan Major Midget league as their leading scorer (44 goals and 49 assists in 40 games) as well as being named league MVP.
This one could bite the Raiders in the butt as Harrison is a solid player in the WHL, finishing 5th in scoring on the club as a 17-year-old with 54 points. PA doesn't bring back alot of scoring this season with the graduation of Dustin Cameron and scoring leader Craig McCallum as well as the possibility that Igor Revenko (overage Euro) might not be back. Let's hope that Fiddler can translate that Midget scoring prowess to the WHL... In the Hat it's yet another notch in the belt to becoming a contender as last month NCAA jumper D Tyler Pitlick, a second round NHL pick (31st overall) last month by the Edmonton Oilers announced he was jumping to the WHL and will help anchor the Tigers blueline and push this club into the contender category come fall and should challenge the always good (yes, the Hitmen will reign as the top dog in the Central, again) Calgary.
