New coach ready for challenge

To say Dan Lambert has some big shoes to fill is to say the Pacific Ocean holds a bit of water.

Photo: Castanet Staff

Dan Lambert makes his head coaching debut Saturday when the Kelowna Rockets host arch rival Kamloops Blazers.

Lambert, entering his sixth year with the Kelowna Rockets is taking over the helm after former head coach Ryan Huska left for the American Hockey League.

Over his seven seasons as head coach Huska amassed an overall record of 303-164-37.

The team won BC Division titles three of the last four year. The Rockets also set franchise records for wins (57) and points (118) last season.

"We did that together so as for feeling pressure, i don't feel any," says Lambert about expectations.

"I feel I would rather come into a situation where we feel we have a pretty good hockey club and we can get better than starting from the bottom and working our way up"

While Lambert admits it's harder to stay on top that to get there, he believes with so many returning veterans, "they know the expectations as well so it won't change with me at the helm."

Lambert also knows what is expected from the organization, both from him and the players.

"I know how things are expected to be done and I know the players and I know what they are capable of.

We don't enjoy losing. I'm hard on myself when that does happen and he'll (GM Bruce Hamilton) be hard on me I imagine. That's part of the hat I wear and I'm comfortable with that."

As for the upcoming season which opens Saturday at Prospera Place, Lambert says he's excited to see what he has once he has his full compliment of players.

The teams is currently waiting for five players who remain in NHL camps.

Defencemen Madison Bowey and Mitch Wheaton and forwards Tyrell Goulbourne, Rourke Chartier and Justin Kirkland are all still in camp.

Lambert doesn't expect any of them to be back in time for Saturday's opener.

Many of those players could begin to trickle back next week.

"We have who we have and right now we are going about our business that that's the lineup we'll have Saturday night."

The Rockets did get goaltender Jackson Whistle, defenceman Dalton Yorke and forward Nick Merkley back from camps earlier in the week.

Right now, Lambert says many of the players on the roster are either playing roles they are unfamiliar with or are being asked to do more than in previous years.

"I think the guys have worked hard in practice which is something we demand.

I think they are starting to understand I want things done one way and it's going to have to be that way."

Saturday's game against the Kamloops Blazers is also banner night for the Rockets.

Kelowna will raise both the regular season BC Division and WHL championship banners prior to the start of the game.