The Prince George Cougars have a new head coach and will introduce him to fans and media on Thursday at noon at the CN Centre/Kin 1 atrium.
The local Western Hockey League team has been seeking a replacement for Mark Holick since April 12. The Cats and Holick parted ways in what was described by both parties as a mutual decision.
The Cougars' new coach will be the 11th in Prince George history. General manager Todd Harkins has said more than 50 people showed interest in the job.
One name that has surfaced publicly is Richard Matvichuk, a former NHL defenceman, who has made a successful transition into the coaching ranks.
Matvichuk, who played 796 regular-season games with the Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils, has spent the past two seasons as head coach of the ECHL's Missouri Mavericks, who are based in the Kansas City area. In 2015-16, he led them to a first-overall record of 52-15-3-2 and was named coach of the year. In the playoffs, the Mavericks were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals in six games by the Allen Americans.
Prior to his post with the Mavericks, Matvichuk served two seasons as defensive coach and assistant general manager of the Americans, who at that time skated in the Central Hockey League. During Matvichuk's tenure with the Americans, they won back-to-back CHL championships (2013-2014).
Matvichuk, originally from Edmonton, is 43 years old. He won a Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999.
Harkins met with Matvichuk in Kansas City earlier this month and described him as a qualified candidate.
Holick guided the Cougars for three-and-a-half years and posted an overall record of 101-121-3-17. This past season, the Cougars were among the best teams in the WHL before Christmas.
As of Dec. 20, they had a 20-10-1-1 record and garnered an honourable mention in the Canadian Hockey League rankings. But, after Christmas, the club fell into a prolonged slump and finished the schedule with a mark of 16-21-2-1 for an overall record of 36-31-3-2. In the playoffs, the Cougars were swept by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round.
As part of Thursday's announcement, free hot dogs and pop will be provided to those in attendance.
