The WHL’s Kelowna Rockets have hired Liam McOnie, the Sicamous Eagles head coach-general manager, as an assistant coach, the organization announced Friday.
McOnie received a call from Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton Friday morning with a job offer.
“It’s obviously bittersweet with this opportunity coming as one of my bigger mentors and friends (Kris Mallette, a KIJHL coaching alum) loses his coaching job, but unfortunately that’s the nature of the beast that we all choose to work in,” said McOnie. “It’s ultimately an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”
McOnie, a Vernon native, said it’s an amazing feeling to get this chance as he’s worked towards this goal. To be able to coach in the Western Hockey League full-time, he views it as a huge step in hockey.
“Ultimately, you’re still dealing with junior age players so it’s a bit of a step on the ice, but really you’re dealing with the same type of kids,” said McOnie, whose overall coaching record with the Eagles and North Okanagan Knights as head coach-general manager is 69-69-16-8 in 162 regular season games.
Reflecting on his time in the KIJHL, McOnie said it was fantastic.
“The KIJHL is the land of opportunity,” he said. “Whether that be for players or coaches. I was very young when I got into the league, I was very young when I got my first opportunity to take over as interim head coach. I was young when I got my opportunity to become a head coach and GM in the league. It’s a fantastic league for opportunity, development, and growth not only for young players, but for coaches. It’s certainly a league that I hold in extremely high regard.”
With the Eagles, McOnie had guided them to a 19-8-5 record in 32 games. He started his coaching career with the North Okanagan Knights as a goalie coach in 2016-17. The following season, he also became a goaltending consultant with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans.
McOnie was promoted to the head-coach and general manager of the Knights in the 2021-22 season. He also joined the Rockets as a consultant that year and held it for one more season.
“Firstly, we would like to thank the Sicamous Eagles board for allowing Liam to leave the team at this time in the season to become an assistant coach to Derrick Martin,” said Rockets President and General Manager Bruce Hamilton on the Rockets website. “Liam has had success at the Junior level both in coaching and management and came highly recommended. We are familiar with him as he has been a goaltending consultant for the Rockets in the past and we welcome him into our organization.”
The KIJHL congratulates McOnie on this new opportunity in his hockey career and wishes him all the best in the future.
