The Prince George Spruce Kings are looking for a new coach.
That's not to say they've parted company with interim head coach Dave Dupas.
As the Spruce Kings embark on a three-game B.C. Hockey League road trip this weekend, the team has posted on its website its intention to seek out a full-time head coach.
"Like we've said right from the time Ed (Dempsey) was let go, we just wanted to hire a guy and get him in place and evaluate as we go, and we've been up front with (Dupas) that it's a bit of trial, and when it's all said and done we want to hire the best guy for the job," said Spruce Kings director Adrien Chabot.
"We have until the end of the season to post the job and let anybody who's interested apply. I'm sure Dave is interested.
"He fully understands that, given the timing, we needed to get somebody in place. There could be a bunch of guys out there that maybe have better credentials and this gives us time to sift through all that."
As an interim head coach, Chabot said Dupas is not under contract with the Kings. He joined the team in late November, a few days after Dempsey was fired as head coach and general manager.
Chabot said Dupas has lived up to the team's expectations since taking over the last-place overall Spruce Kings, who play tonight in Vernon.
"He's been put into a tough situation and he's certainly been able to refocus the group," said Chabot. "Now that we traded away a bunch at the deadline he's in even a tougher situation, but he seems pretty dedicated and he's trying to pull the guys in the right direction. He's doing the job we needed him to do, for sure."
The job posting is strictly for a full-time coach, whose responsibilities would also include recruiting and retention of players. That coach would report through the general manager and hockey operations committee to the board of community-owned Spruce Kings. The deadline for resumes applications is Feb. 25.
Coming off a 5-4 overtime win Tuesday at home against Westside, the Kings play the Vipers tonight, then hit Salmon Arm to play the Silverbacks Saturday, before making a stop in Merritt Sunday afternoon against the Centennials.
The Spruce Kings (11-35-0-3) are five points behind the Quesnel Millionaires for seventh-place in the Interior Conference. The Mills, who play tonight in Trail, hold down the last playoff spot.
