Coaches

Head Coach Ryan Huska

The 2011-12 WHL season marks the fifth season for Ryan Huska as head coach of the Kelowna Rockets. In his time in Kelowna, he has risen to be one of the top young coaches in Canada. 

For the second straight year, Huska will work as an assistant coach on Team Canada's World Junior Team in addition to his work with the Rockets.

Last season saw the Rockets put up a record of 48-23-0-1. He also earned a silver medal with Team Canada's juniors.

Huska is one of the most decorated amateur hockey men in Canada with four Memorial Cup championship rings to his name. This Christmas he will add another milestone as he makes his first trip to World Junior Hockey Championship as an assistant coach for Team Canada.

As a player Huska was a centre with the dynasty teams in Kamloops where he won three Memorial Cup championships. He would play 247 career WHL regular season games and 155 playoff games with the Blazers. As a pro he played in the IHL, AHL and also played one game in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks.

After retiring as a player, Huska climbed through the coaching ranks with the Rockets beginning in 2002-03 as an assistant coach before becoming the Rockets seventh head coach in history in 2007.

In 2004 in Kelowna, he earned his fourth Memorial Cup and first as a coach when he was an assistant to Marc Habscheid when the Rockets won the Memorial Cup.In 2008-09 he guided the Rockets to a WHL banner and a Memorial Cup appearance as a head coach.

Born in Cranbrook, he and his wife Denise have two daughters and a son.

Assistant Coach Dan Lambert

Dan Lambert enters his third season as a Kelowna Rockets assistant coach. A former professional defenceman, Lambert works with the Rockets defencemen, passing on 19 years of playing experience in North America and in Europe's top-rated league.

After a junior career with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos—where one year he had over 100 points as a blueliner—Lambert was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the sixth round. But it was in Germany's DEL where Lambert made his mark, playing 10 years in what is considered the best league in Europe.

Lambert lives with his wife Melanie and their three daughters.

Assistant Coach Ryan Cuthbert

Ryan Cuthbert enters his fifth season as a member of the Rockets coaching staff. A popular player in a five year career with the Rockets, Cuthbert played in 364 career regular season and playoff games.

After retiring from professional hockey due to injury, Cuthbert returned to Kelowna and began coaching, including with the midget Rockets, before joining the WHL Rockets in 2008-09.

Cuthbert’s highlights over his career with the Rockets was winning the WHL championship in 2002-03 as a player and again as a coach in 2008-09.

Assistant Coach Kim Dillabaugh

A former Western Hockey Leauge goaltender who played with the Rockets in both Tacoma and Kelowna, Kim Dillabaugh turned to coaching after finishing up his WHL career in 1996-97 in Calgary.

Dillabaugh works with Kelowna Rockets goaltenders and is also in charge of goaltender development for the NHL's LA Kings.

He and his wife Bonnie are full time Kelowna residents and recently welcomed their first child, baby girl Ellie Amelia.

Athletic Therapist Jeff Thorburn

A native of Dalhousie, New Brunswick, athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn has been with the Kelowna Rockets since the 2006-07 Western Hockey League season.

Thorburn's work history in athletic therapy includes stints at the University of Calgary andwith the WHL's Hitmen and he has also worked with Hockey Canada's world junior team and in the 2009 Subway Super Series.

He lives in Kelowna with his wife and baby girl Erica.

Skating Coach Aaron Konecsni