Lamb steps in as Cougars head coach
There was speculation that Cougars general manager Mark Lamb might be headed away from Prince George for an NHL job this off-season.
Instead, the WHL team’s GM doubled down on this city. It was announced Thursday that he would strike the word interim from his bench title (he stepped in temporarily as coach at the Feb. 7 point of this past season) and take on the role of head coach as well as retain his senior management duties. It is a dual role he has handled before at the WHL level.
In so doing, Lamb becomes the 13th head coach in the Prince George side of the franchise’s history (it dates further back to Victoria prior to 1994).
“There were several qualified candidates who expressed interest in the position,” said John Pateman, president of EDGEPRo Sports & Entertainment, the Cougars ownership group. “At the end of the day, when looking at Mark’s experience, reputation and vision for this team, as well as positive feedback from players and agents, we knew he was the best fit going forward.”
The Cougars will be naming an associate coach and finalizing other members of the hockey operations department in the coming weeks, Pateman said.
“I look forward to having a hands-on approach in building this team,” said Lamb. “This is about continuing with the same vision we’ve laid out in the past year. The future is bright with this group.”
Lamb has an extensive hockey resume, which includes a Stanley Cup, and spans over three decades as a player and coach.
After a 15-year playing career at the professional level, Lamb began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers in 2001-02.
He then moved on to the Dallas Stars and spent six seasons (2002-09) behind the bench as an assistant coach.
He was named the general manager and head coach of the Swift Current Broncos in 2009, a position he held until 2016.
Lamb then moved back into the professional ranks in 2016-17, as head coach of the Tucson Roadrunners, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes.