Ryan Huska, when he was coach of the Kelowna Rockets. (Marissa Baecker/Kelowna Rockets photo)

By Corey Fischer

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Former Rockets coach gets top NHL job

Jun 12, 2023 | 11:15 AM

The Calgary Flames have named Ryan Huska as the 24th head coach in franchise history.

The former Kelowna Rockets coach has spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach on the Flames bench.

Huska, 47, is the first former member of the Rockets coaching staff to be named a NHL head coach.

“I am as proud as I have been of any former player or any employee of our organization to have Ryan advance on,” Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton, said. “From our organization, we’re so proud of him and thrilled that he has received this opportunity. He brought so much to our organization, he’s loyal, understanding and competitive; traits that he passed onto the coaches that worked below him. This is the greatest thing that could happen to him and his family, we know he’s going to do a great job with the Flames.”

Huska, who was born in Cranbrook B.C., spent 12 seasons with the Rockets; five as an assistant between 2002 and 2007 and seven as the head coach from 2007 to 2014. He helped Kelowna capture the 2004 Memorial Cup and WHL titles in 2003, 2005 and 2009.

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He was also an assistant coach for Hockey Canada’s World Junior team, claiming a silver medal in 2011 and a bronze medal in 2012.

Following his time with the Rockets, Huska moved on to become the head coach of the Flames AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Flames, in 2004. He spent three more seasons as the Flames AHL head coach after the team relocated to Stockton. In 2018-19, he was named the Calgary Flames assistant coach and has been a member of their staff for the past five seasons.

Prior to coaching, the former forward spent four seasons with the Kamloops Blazers between 1991 and 1995. As a player, he won three WHL and Memorial Cup titles.