The Kitchener Rangers are searching for a new head coach.
On Friday, the team announced that head coach Jussi Ahokas has departed to take charge of the Colorado Eagles in the American Hockey League, which is affiliated with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.
Ahokas, 45, joined the Rangers three years ago. Throughout his tenure as head coach, the team states that they never placed lower than fourth in the Ontario Hockey League’s western conference. They claimed the Memorial Cup in May by going unbeaten at the tournament held in Kelowna, B. C.
Kitchener Rangers chief operating officer and governor Joe Birch congratulated Ahokas on his new position in a press release on Friday.
“This opportunity is a testament to Jussi’s outstanding leadership, exceptional hockey mind and unwavering commitment to player development,” Birch said.
“During his time in Kitchener, he helped elevate our organization to new heights, culminating in a Memorial Cup championship while leaving a lasting impact on our players, staff, and community. We are incredibly proud of everything he accomplished with the Rangers.”
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This file photo shows Jussi Ahokas behind the Finland bench during the IIHF World Junior Championships in Montreal in December 2016. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)
Before becoming a coach, Ahokas played as a goaltender in Finland. He has coached across Europe and served on Finland’s coaching staff during various roles at both the IIHF World Junior Championships and IIHF Under-18 World Championships before arriving at Kitchener.
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Ahokas boasts a history of winning games
The Colorado Eagles announced his appointment on Friday, mentioning he’ll succeed Mark Letestu, who recently became an assistant coach for the Vegas Golden Knights. Avalanche assistant general manager and Eagles general manager Kevin Mc Donald shared that Ahokas’ reputation speaks volumes and they’re “excited to welcome him” aboard. ”Jussi has done a great job with every team and every league he’s been a part of as a head coach,” Mc Donald said. “His track record of winning games in a variety of leagues and international tournaments is impressive, and he’ll be a great fit for our team in Loveland, [Colorado].” The Kitchener Rangers included a statement from Ahokas where he expressed gratitude for being part of their team and acknowledged support from both front office members and fans alike. “What I will remember in Kitchener is the great people, great organization,” he said. “I can’t be more happy that I made the choice to come to Kitchener. I got to work with unbelievable staff, unbelievable organization, and we got our goal which was to win and we got it done. That’s why I wanted to move on because we did what I came here to do and all-in-all I can’t thank more Kitchener, the city, the fans, and the whole community.”Source link
