Rockets Make Coaching Change, Part Ways With Kris Mallette

Along with shipping out one of the WHL's biggest trade fish in Andrew Cristall, the Kelowna Rockets are mixing things up behing the bench as well.

Head coach Kris Mallette is out after nearly a 10-season run in Kelowna, being promoted from assistant coach midway through the 2019-20 season. In his place, the Rockets name assistant Derrick Martin interim head coach.

Martin was brought in during the 2024 offseason from the Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) where he served as General Manager/Head Coach for one season. The Vermillion, Alta. native has various experience coaching at the junior and prep levels, spending four seasons as assistant coach with the Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) and one each as head coach with the OHA Edmonton U16 and U15 programs.

The Rockets also announce that they have hired Liam McOnie as an assistant coach. McOnie is not unfamiliar to the Western Hockey League, as he has five seasons (2017-2023) with the Tri-City Americans as well as Kelowna under his belt as a goaltending coach/consultant. A native of Vernon, B.C. McOnie also has spent the last two seasons in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League as a GM/Head Coach.

“Firstly, we would like to thank the Sicamous Eagles board for allowing Liam to leave the team at this time in the season to become an assistant coach to Derrick Martin,” Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton said. “Liam has had success at the Junior level both in coaching and management and came highly recommended. We are familiar with him as he has been a goaltending consultant for the Kelowna Rockets in the past and we welcome him into our organization.”

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