Knights alum Kris Mallette keeps growing from elite competition
Kris Mallette, a North Okanagan Knights alum (2010-11 assistant coach | 2011-13 head coach), is in his 11th season coaching the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, the last five-and-a-half seasons as head coach.
He recently coached Team CHL to two wins over the U.S. NDTP in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge held in Ontario in late November. Mallette has also been a coach of Hockey Canada programs since 2021.
Mallette spoke with KIJHL communications director Emanuel Sequeira about the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
KIJHL: What was the experience like for you to coach in the two-day challenge for the CHL USA Prospects Challenge?
KM: It was a great opportunity to reconnect with staff from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and 19 of the 22 players (from past Hlinka Gretzky Cups) I had coached at some point and obviously the staff that I was fortunate to win gold with this summer.
KIJHL: Did you have much say into which players would get selected for the Challenge?
KM: We did as a staff. The NHL provided a list of I think 16 forwards, 10 defencemen and four goalies who they wanted to see in the Prospects Challenge. It was up to our staff as well as the Western Hockey League vice-president to make choices. That’s why they chose us because we’re so familiar with the players.
KIJHL: What do you think you gained from this experience that is going to help you in the future?
KM: It was high profile. I think each NHL team had anywhere from six to 10 personnel there. It’s a dream of mine to eventually coach in the NHL, so the exposure hopefully helps me move forward. It’s just pressure. I think every time you’re in these types of environments, you know there’s a clear directive with an expectation to win. Being able to have success in those moments bodes well for me individually and personally.
KIJHL: You have also been part of Hockey Canada’s coaching staff for the World U17 Hockey Championships and three Hlink Gretzky Cups, how are those experiences making you a better coach?
KM: Again, it’s dealing with elite athletes in their age group, and the pressure or the expectation of Hockey Canada is always to win gold. To surround yourself with very good coaches and personnel allows you to grow as a coach, it really does. You’re looking for new ideas, you’re trusting visions that you have as a coach, but being able to see things or ideas come to fruition is what’s most positive. Hockey Canada gives you every opportunity to succeed, so again the expectation is that now you just have to go out and do it. I really like it, I really love the Hlinka experience, just how it’s situated in the summer, albeit it takes away from a lot of family time. It also really gets me excited for the upcoming season. We’re finishing at the start of August, our training camp begins within three weeks, so it really resets me and gets me fired up for the Rockets season.
KIJHL: In terms of your own growth as a coach, in what areas have you become better?
KM: You’re trying to evolve every day. I think communication is the biggest part within the success of being able to individually communicate with players so there’s no gray area. That is a big strength. I’ve become more confident in my abilities.
KIJHL: Are there things from your time coaching the North Okanagan Knights that still help you now?
KM: Absolutely. I run a lot of the same concepts when I was with North Okanagan. Being given the ability and freedom to really put your stamp on things was something that helped my confidence grow. It was a great stepping stone for my career in regards to the young players I was able to coach. We did have quite a young team two of the three years I was there and that helped me progress. The travel was hard, the practice schedule, all those details don’t change. I think just the pressure might amplify a bit more as I’ve moved up and that’s about it.
I really enjoyed my time in the KIJHL. I still keep in touch with some of the players that I’ve coached throughout the years, and I keep tabs on some players that I coached that are now coaching like Liam McOnie with Sicamous. It’s good to see guys still applying their trade in that league because it’s a valuable place to learn.
