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WHL  

Rockets lose coach to NHL

Kelowna Rockets head coach Dan Lambert is moving up to the big show.

Team president and general manager Bruce Hamilton announced today that Lambert has resigned from the team to take on an assistant coach position with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. 

Lambert was in his first year as Rockets head coach and guided the team to the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup and WHL championship last season.

“This was a decision that was very difficult to make,” said Lambert.

“I’d like to thank Bruce Hamilton and the Hamilton family, and Lorne Frey for giving me an opportunity six years ago to become part of the Rocket family. I would like to thank Ryan Huska, Kim Dillabaugh, Kim Gellert and Ryan Cuthbert for the awesome working environment that was created in the coach’s room. And to all the staff for my first year as a head coach. What a run we had.”

Lambert was first hired by the Rockets in 2009, after closing out a 19-year professional career in North America and Europe. He was promoted from assistant to head coach in June 2014 after Huska accepted a position with the Calgary Flames. 

“We wish Dan well in the future,” said Hamilton. “This is two years in a row we have lost our head coach, so it’s tough. But we are about developing our people, and we are happy to see Dan move on to the next level.”

Lambert is currently in Buffalo attending the Sabres development camp. 

A search has begun for a new head coach, and qualified applicants are asked to email [email protected]



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