Lorne Frey and Dan Lambert have been down this road before.
The Rockets assistant GM and the WHL club’s head coach shared a Memorial Cup title back in 1989 as members of the Swift Current Broncos’ organization.
Frey was the Broncos’ assistant GM, while Lambert was one of the team’s co-captains and undisputed leaders.
“The year we won the Memorial Cup, (Dan) was the MVP of the tournament and he had an outstanding year, he was just a great team leader and performer,” said Frey. “He was big part of what happened that year and we have some great memories of that time.”
Two decades later, when Lambert’s playing career in Europe came to an end, Frey was a big proponent of bringing the St. Boniface, Man. to Kelowna.
The two were reunited in 2009 when Lambert was hired on by the Rockets as an assistant coach. Six years later, as a rookie head coach, Lambert has his Rockets in the Memorial Cup.
“It wasn’t just me who was touting Dan, we had recommendations from so many people that he was such a first-class individual and person, and that couldn’t be more true,” said Frey, who is also the Rockets’ director of player personnel.
“He’s a good communicator and he’s willing to learn. He’s done a terrific job with this team.”
Frey and Lambert experienced their share of high and lows together during the Swift Current days, from depths of the tragic bus crash in 1986 which killed four Broncos players, to the euphoria of the Memorial Cup win in 1989 in Saskatoon.
“Those kinds of things bond you as a group forever and Lorne and I were there for both,” Lambert said. “So it’s pretty special that we’re here together all these years later.
“You realize how important relationships are from the past and God knows, I’m not here if wasn’t for Lorne Frey, I might not even be in hockey.”
And 26 years after that first triumph together with Swift Current, the two have come full circle in Quebec City to contend for yet another Memorial Cup title.
“It’s a lot fun. I keep telling (Dan), the success you’re having is based on the same drills we were doing 25 years ago,” Frey joked. “Of course, that’s not true, but we enjoy talking about a lot of that stuff.
“I’m so happy for him. He stepped in as a rookie head coach and won a WHL championship. I’m happy to be here with him again to see him having success. It’s always fun to win, I’m getting on in years, so hopefully we can be part of something really great again.”
And from Lambert’s perspective, the feeling is clearly mutual.
“When you look at the success (Lorne) has had, doing what he does, I have ties to that opinion, but I think he’s the best there is in the business.
“When you look at the teams he’s been part of in Kelowna, it’s been pretty special. It would be real cool to have success here with him.”
