Ryan Huska, a coach with a strong record in Canada’s junior hockey program, was introduced this month as new head coach of the Adirondack Flames who begin playing this season at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Officials for the Calgary Flames, the NHL parent club of the Glens Falls team, said Huska, 39, is a native of Cranbrook, British Columbia, has spent the last 12 seasons with the Kelowna Rockets, the first five as an assistant coach and the last seven seasons serving as their head coach. The Rockets play in the Western Hockey League (WHL) which is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada.
He played his junior hockey with the Kamloops Blazers before being drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round in the 1993 NHL Draft. He played over 300 professional games in the AHL and the IHL with Indianapolis, Lowell and Springfield.
Last season Huska guided the Rockets to the WHL BC Division championship with a 57-11-0-4 record, setting a new franchise record with 57 wins. In his seven seasons as head coach, the Rockets have not finished below .500.
Meanwhile, Adirondack Flames President Brian Petrovek said the team’s home opening night for its inaugural season at the Glens Falls Civic Center will be Saturday Oct. 11.
Petrovek said in June that Saturday nights during the season will become special events, known as “Saturday Night is Hockey Night in Glens Falls” during the 2014-15 AHL season.
“Saturday Night is Hockey Night in Glens Falls” will be a promotional platform that will invigorate the city with pre-, post- and in-game specials throughout the city of Glens Falls, as well as inside the Civic Center during games.
The first game will start at 7 p.m. with the opponent still to be determined.
It will mark the beginning of the 26th season of American Hockey League play in Glens Falls and the inaugural season for the Adirondack Flames.
Also in July, American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced in July that the league’s board of governors approved the division alignment for the 2014-15 AHL season.
While based in the Northeast, Andrews said the Adirondack Flames will play in the Western Conference, in its North Division. The competition in that division (NHL affiliation in parentheses) is the Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal), Rochester Americans (Buffalo), Toronto Marlies (Toronto) and the Utica Comets (Vancouver).
Flames officials said upcoming announcements, including a season sponsor, as well as seven more guaranteed dates for the 2014-15 season would be announced at a later date.
Photo Courtesy Calgary Flames