Kris Mallette and Travis Crickard will be back on the Kelowna Rockets’ coaching staff for the 2017-18 Western Hockey League season.
Mallette and Crickard this week each signed two-year extensions to remain on as assistants to head coach Jason Smith.
Last Sunday night, the duo each ended their third seasons as assistants with the Rockets.
Mallette and Crickard have both been on the staff since the start of the 2014-15 season. In 2015, the Rockets won the WHL championship before falling just one goal shoty of a Memorial Cup title.
The two have coached in 216 regular season games with Kelowna, helping to compile a record of 146-55-14-1 during that span. In 54 WHL playoff games with Mallete and Crickard on the job, the Rockets are 34-20.
With three seasons now under their belts, general manager Bruce Hamilton expects the experience gained by the two coaches will only benefit the Rockets.
“With Jason (Smith) being signed for two more seasons I wanted to get these two signed as soon as I could as well,” Hamitlon said.
“These two have definitely earned it and we look forward to the next couple of seasons with these guys behind the bench.”
The new extensions will take both coaches through to the end of the 2018-2019 season.