Spokane Chiefs name Brad Lauer as new head coach

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs announced Brad Lauer as the team's new head coach ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Lauer spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the NHL's Winnipeg Jets.

Before that, he was the bench boss for the Edmonton Oil Kings. He led the team to a WHL Championship in the 2021-22 season and also helped the team set new franchise records for the longest winning streak in a single season and best winning percentage.

Lauer was named WHL's Coach of the Year in the 2019-20 season, becoming the first Oil Kings coach to win the Dune McCallum Memorial Trophy.

Before coaching the Oil Kings, Lauer spent a decade coaching at the professional level for multiple NHL and AHL teams.

The Chiefs parted ways with former head coach Ryan Smith in May.

Spokane is coming off a season in which they were swept in the first round of the WHL playoffs.

The Chiefs will start the 2024-25 season on September 20.

COPYRIGHT 2024 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.