The Abbotsford Heat are expected to announce Ryan Walter as their new team president at a press conference on Tuesday morning.
Walter, a 53-year-old New Westminster native, played 15 NHL seasons with the Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks, winning a Stanley Cup in 1986 with Montreal.
He served as a Canucks assistant coach under Alain Vigneault for two seasons (2008 to 2010), and coached the Canadian women’s hockey team to a gold medal at the 2010 Four Nations Cup.
Walter holds a masters degree in leadership from Trinity Western University, and is an author and motivational speaker. His son Ben, a 27-year-old centre, signed with the Calgary Flames, the Heat’s NHL parent club, last month.
The Heat have scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The public is invited to the announcement.
Walter would replace former Heat president Tom Mauthe, who helmed the club through its first two AHL campaigns. Mauthe, a Vancouver resident, announced his resignation on July 18, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. He plans to explore job opportunities closer to home.
