Lambert honoured

It isn't often that a first year head coach wins over 50 games. It isn't often that a first year head coach is a nominee for the Western Hockey League coach of the year.
Kelowna Rockets bench boss Dan Lambert has been recognized as the best coach in the Western Conference after leading his team to a 53 win season. As the Western Conference nominee, Lambert, who took over from Ryan Huska last summer, will go up against the Eastern Conference nominee, Regina Pats head skipper John Paddock. Oddly, Paddock is also a first year coach in the WHL.
Last season, Ryan Huska was the Western Conference nominee for coach of the year and was beaten out by Eastern Conference nominee, Kootenay Ice's Ryan McGill.
Lambert is the fourth Rockets coach to be nominated for the league award. Ryan Huska, Marc Habscheid and Marcel Comeau were also honoured. Habscheid was named the WHL Coach of the Year and CHL Coach of the Year in 2002-2003, while Comeau took home the league award in the 1992-93.