(Calgary) The Calgary Flames have announced that Ryan Huska has been named head coach.
Team executives confirmed the news in a press release on Monday. He becomes the 24th head coach in the organization’s history. The Flames called the media to a press conference on Monday afternoon.
The position had been vacant since Darryl Sutter was fired in May.
“Following an extensive research process, we are proud to introduce Ryan Huska as head coach of the Calgary Flames,” said general manager Craig Conroy, in the official statement.
“While the continuity and familiarity is a plus, we got to see Ryan’s work ethic firsthand. He’s a clear communicator who builds trust with his players, and he’s a critical thinker with a plan. »
Huska held a coaching position with the Flames organization beginning in the 2014-15 season. That season, he was given the job of head coach of the Flames’ farm club in Adirondack, in the American League.
In four seasons as head coach in the American League, he posted an overall record of 135-118-27 while helping to develop future NHL players including Rasmus Andersson, Andrew Mangiapane and Oliver Kylington, three members of the current edition of the Alberta squad.
In 2018, he joined the Calgary Flames as an assistant coach.
In the Flames’ official statement, Huska said he was honored to have earned the trust of the team’s entire management.
“Coming into this role, my position is a bit different from most (other coaches) because I know our players very well. We have very good people in our locker room, great hockey players who want to win. My job is to inspire them day after day to help them lead our team to the next level. »
Huska also coached the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL for seven seasons, beginning in 2007, and completed his coaching career at the junior level with a record of 303-164-37.
“Ryan has 11 seasons of experience as a head coach in the WHL and AHL and over 20 years of coaching experience, including coaching knowledge -assistant in Calgary for the past five seasons,” Conroy said in the statement.
“Ryan has earned this opportunity and we are confident that he is the perfect coach for our team. »
The Flames missed the playoffs by two points in the regular season that ended in April.
