New Coach, Richard Matvichuk – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George Cougars have hired a former NHL player as their new bench boss.

The Cats introduced 43-year-old Richard Matvichuk to an adoring crowd inside the Kin 1 atrium at CN Centre today.

A former defenceman and veteran of almost 800 NHL games, Matvichuk played most of his 14 seasons with the Dallas Stars, including their 1999 Stanley Cup winning team.

For the past two years he was head coach of the Missouri Mavericks of the East Coast Hockey League, guiding them to a 52-15-3-2 record this past season and winning Coach of the Year.

“Its an honour to be named as coach of the Prince George Cougars” said Matvichuk as he took the podium.  “When Todd called me the answer was yes even before he got the question out.”

And with the likes of players like Jansen Harkins,  Jesse Gabrielle,  Brogan O’Brien and others he said a solid foundation is already in place for future success.

“We have one goal and that’s to win. We’re going to win some games, we’re not going to win all of them I promise you that but we’re going to try hard.”

“It’s a very exciting day for our organization, our fans, our current players and future players of the Prince George Cougars,” said Cougars General Manager Todd Harkins, who added he had his eye on Matvichuk early on in the hiring process. “His enthusiasm was something that made me keep coming back to him. I have full confidence that he is the man to lead us.”

Matvichuk, who has signed a three year contract with the Cougars, replaces Mark Holick, who mutually parted ways with the club following their abrupt exit from the playoffs last year.