The Chilliwack Chiefs have replaced their head coach, a week before the RBC Cup hits their home arena.
The club’s ownership made the announcement on Thursday, via their website.
“Brian Maloney has been named Head Coach and General Manager of the Chilliwack Chiefs, effective immediately,” they wrote. “Maloney, a Chiefs’ Alumnus, and previously Associate Coach and Assistant General Manager of the Club, will be behind the bench as the team competes in the 2018 RBC Cup at Prospera Centre May 12 – 20.
“President Glen Ringdal said the decision to elevate Maloney was made by Chiefs’ ownership today.”
However, the announcement did not explain head coach Jason Tatarnic’s sudden departure. He joined the team as bench boss in April 2014, coming here from Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.
Maloney has been a member of the Chiefs coaching staff for two seasons now. He spent the previous season as a part-time assistant coach.
He’s also a former Chiefs player, spending a season and a half in uniform after joining the team January 1997. In 87 regular season games with the Chiefs, he scored 44 goals and added 87 assists. In his final season he served as the team’s captain and led the Chiefs to their second appearance the BCHL Final, where they fell in five games to the Vernon Vipers.
After accepting a four year scholarship to Michigan State University, Maloney played pro hockey in various locations for 11 seasons, including stops in the American Hockey League with Binghamton and Chicago. He retired as a player after the 2013-14 season, his seventh in Germany.
The RBC Cup is a 13-game tournament involving five teams from across Canada. The round robin runs from May 12 to May 17, the semi-finals are on May 19, and the championship game will be held on May 20 at 4 p.m.
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