Brad Rihela has left the Prince George Spruce Kings as he graduates from assistant to head coach.
Rihela joined the Spruce Kings last season as an assistant coach and helped guide the team to a third place finish in their inaugural season in the Mainland division of the B.C. Hockey League. He resigned from the Spruce Kings on Monday to take the head coaching position with his hometown Aldergrove Kodiaks of the Pacific Junior Hockey League.
The Kodiaks are the two-time defending champions of the PJHL.
"I owe a lot to [Kings GM] Mike Hawes and [Kings head coach] Dave Dupas for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a truly first-class organization," said Rihela. "I am proud to say I was part of an organization that is on the verge of becoming one of the elite teams in the BCHL."
Hawes said Rihela has a bright future ahead of him in coaching.
"We are in the business of developing players for the next level but we also develop coaches," said Hawes.
With Rihela's departure both Colton Buffie, Spruce Kings assistant and video coach, and assistant coach Jason Garneau will see an increase in their duties with the team.
Eagles soar
The Surrey Eagles were crowned the 2012-13 Fred Page Cup champions Sunday after a 3-2 double overtime victory over the Penticton Vees in Game 6 of the best-of-seven BCHL final.
Adam Tambellini, acquired by the Eagles at January's trade deadline from the Vernon Vipers, scored the winner at 2:34 of the second overtime to send the Eagles on to the Western Canada Cup, starting Saturday in Nanaimo.
In addition to the Eagles, the other four teams headed to Nanaimo are the Steinbach Pistons (Manitoba), Yorkton Terriers (Saskatchewan), Brooks Bandits (Alberta) and the host Clippers. Last season, the Bandits fell in the final of the Doyle Cup to the eventual RBC Cup champion Vees.
The top team after the round robin and the winner of the final game May 5 in Nanaimo will head to Summerside, PEI for the 2013 RBC Cup.
