Sicamous Eagles head coach and general manager Liam McOnie is flying the coop for an opportunity he "couldn't pass up."
McOnie, who just joined the KIJHL Eagles at the start of this season, will be joining the WHL's Kelonwa Rockets as an assistant coach after getting the job offer on Friday morning, Jan. 10. His hiring is part of a larger shake up for the Rockets as they also announced the dismissal of head coach Kris Mallette, who is also a KIJHL alum.
"It's obviously bittersweet with this opportunity coming as one of my bigger mentors and friends loses his coaching job, but unfortunately that's the nature of the beast that we all choose to work in," McOnie said in a media release. "It's ultimately an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."
The Vernon native added it's an amazing feeling to get this chance after working towards this goal, seeing it as a huge step in hockey to be able to coach in the WHL full-time.
"Ultimately you're still dealing with junior players so it's a bit of a step on the ice, but really you're dealing with the same type of kids," McOnie said.
McOnie started his coaching career with the former North Okanagan Knights 香蕉视频直播� now the Quesnel River Rush 香蕉视频直播� in the KIJHL as a goalie coach in 2016-17, and the following season became a goaltending consultant with the WHL's Tri-City Americans.
Since joining the Eagles at the start of the season, McOnie led them to a 19-8-5 record in 32 games, for an overall coaching record of 69-69-16-8 in 162 regular season games with both KIJHL teams. Looking back on his time with that league, McOnie described it as fantastic.
"The KIJHL is the land of opportunity. Whether that be for players or coaches," he said. "I was young when I got into the league, I was very young when I got my first opportunity to take over as interim head coach. I was young when I got my opportunity to become a head coach and GM in the league. It's a fantastic league for opportunity, development and growth, not only for young players, but for coaches. It's certainly a league I hold in extremely high regard."
A new coach hasn't yet been announced for the Eagles, however, they still have the guidance of assistant coaches Kaden Black, Ben Marshall and Shawn Webb in the interim. In a comment on the announcement of McOnie's new role, the team said it is "so proud to see the advancement of our coach" and look forward "to seeing his future success."
