Breaking: NHL legend Adam Foote steps behind the bench

The Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) have announced that they’ve hired former NHL defenseman Adam Foote as the team’s new head coach.

The Rockets relieved former head coach Jason Smith of his duties yesterday afternoon, after starting the 2018-19 season with a dreadful 4-10-0-0 start. 

In a prepared statement Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton said:

“Any time you let someone go that is the quality of Jason Smith it’s very tough, however the success of our hockey club ultimately falls with myself and I feel at this time we need to go in a different direction. Jason is just a wonderful person and we want to thank him for his time here.”

Foote had formerly been the defensive coach with the Colorado Avalanche, before resigning from his position this past offseason. The legendary blue liner is of course one of the Avs all-time greats, having won two Stanley cups with the franchise in 1996 and 2001.

Read below for the official press release courtesy of the Rockets’ official website:

The Kelowna Rockets are pleased to announce the hiring of Adam Foote as the team’s new head coach.

Foote, a former captain of the Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets, played 1158 NHL games. He was most recently a defensive coach with the Colorado Avalanche from 2011 through last season.

“Our hope is that Adam can come in and take over a team that is in transition,” said Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton. “Because we host the 2020 Memorial Cup, we know a number of personnel moves will have to be made. We are confident Adam will be able to help us move forward, not just this year but next season also.”

Foote, 47, is a former OHL player, having played for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He was drafted 22nd overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989. He had 308 points (66g, 242a) and 308 penalty minutes during his 19-year career in the NHL. He won two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche in 1996 and 2001 and a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

“I’m excited,” said Foote, a defenceman as a player. “Kelowna is a great organization, and there are exciting times ahead. I’m lucky to have played on a lot of good teams with great players throughout my career. I’ve gathered a lot of information over the years and plan to apply it to the development of Rockets players.”

Foote and his wife Jennifer have two sons: Cal is a former Rockets captain and first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning who is currently playing for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, and Nolan, an assistant captain in his third season with the Rockets.

Foote joins assistant coaches Kris Mallette and Travis Crickard on the Rockets bench.