Kelowna Rockets head coach Kris Mallette continues to go up the ranks of the hockey world.
On Wednesday, Oct. 2, he was named head coach for Team CHL at the inaugural CHL USA Prospects Challenge.
The new event is a two-game series that showcases the CHL's top first-year NHL Draft-eligible prospects against USA Hockey香蕉视频直播檚 National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 team.
香蕉视频直播淛ust really excited for the opportunity. When I got the call, I thought I was in trouble, to be honest," said Mallette. "But yeah, just really excited for this inaugural event. It香蕉视频直播檚 a great showcase for the players within our league and players across the CHL. We as a staff have the opportunity to be the first to try and have some success at this event so I香蕉视频直播檓 looking forward to the opportunity.香蕉视频直播�
"It香蕉视频直播檚 (the CHL) obviously somewhere that I've been for coming up into my 11th season as a coach and then my time as a player too, so I香蕉视频直播檓 extremely happy as it香蕉视频直播檚 a huge significance to be part of the first iteration of this event.香蕉视频直播�
Mallette is joined by assistant coaches Gordie Dwyer (Acadie-Bathurst Titan / QMJHL) and Ryan Oulahen (North Bay Battalion / OHL). The three of them recently all led Team Canada to a third consecutive gold medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August.
香蕉视频直播淗aving a relationship with some of these players in a high-pressure environment I think will help because it香蕉视频直播檚 built some trust between myself and those players," Mallette said. "Obviously having them know me and the way I like to coach bodes well for everybody."
"And it香蕉视频直播檚 not even necessarily just this year香蕉视频直播檚 Hlinka Gretzky香蕉视频直播檚 team that we coached (that would allow him to jump right into it), there are some guys from previous events that I香蕉视频直播檝e worked with as well. Porter Martone potentially and Malcolm Spence 香蕉视频直播� some guys that I haven香蕉视频直播檛 seen for a while, I think that would be good to reconnect with them and having a relationship with them already is huge.香蕉视频直播�
Team CHL will be composed of 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders and is expected to be announced at the end of October. NHL Central Scouting, the NHL香蕉视频直播檚 32 teams, and CHL香蕉视频直播檚 coaching staff will all play a role in selecting the team.
The inaugural event takes place on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 in London, Ont., and November 27 in Oshawa, Ont respectively.
