Call it an early birthday gift for Ryan Huska.
Just 10 days shy of his 34th birthday, Huska has been offered a new two year contract to stay on as the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets.
The 33 year-old was offered the new deal Monday after leading the team to a Western Hockey League championship in just his second season at the helm.
Many questioned the hiring of Huska back on July 25, 2007 when Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton elected to hire from within following the departure of Jeff Truitt. The reason? Lets just say the coaching resume for Huska wasn't a long one. Huska had no prior head coaching experience at any level, something both Marc Habscheid and Jeff Truitt had in their back pockets when they guided the team to league titles in 2003 (Habscheid) and 2005 (Truitt).
Yet Huska was able to guide the franchise to it's fourth appearance at the Memorial Cup in 7 seasons, proving that baptism by fire often times brings out the best in a young, up and coming head coach.
Just 10 days shy of his 34th birthday, Huska has been offered a new two year contract to stay on as the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets.
The 33 year-old was offered the new deal Monday after leading the team to a Western Hockey League championship in just his second season at the helm.
Many questioned the hiring of Huska back on July 25, 2007 when Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton elected to hire from within following the departure of Jeff Truitt. The reason? Lets just say the coaching resume for Huska wasn't a long one. Huska had no prior head coaching experience at any level, something both Marc Habscheid and Jeff Truitt had in their back pockets when they guided the team to league titles in 2003 (Habscheid) and 2005 (Truitt).
Yet Huska was able to guide the franchise to it's fourth appearance at the Memorial Cup in 7 seasons, proving that baptism by fire often times brings out the best in a young, up and coming head coach.
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