Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George Cougars have hired Steve O’Rourke to be an associate coach with the team. 

The 41-year-old O’Rourke comes to the Cougars organization having spent the past three seasons serving as an Assistant Coach with the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels. Prior to that, he spent two seasons (2009-10 and 2010-11) with the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Heat as an Assistant Coach where the team had a combined record of 77-61-9-13. In 2011-12 he pulled double duty as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Langley Rivermen (BCHL) and also coached at the Okanagan Hockey Academy before joining the Rebels.

“The Prince George Cougars are a team on the rise both on and off the ice and my family and I couldn’t be happier to be making this move to Northern British Columbia,” said Steve O’Rourke. “It’s a privilege to coach in the Western Hockey League and I’m very grateful to the Cougars ownership and management staff for this opportunity.”

“Steve is an excellent coach and a strong communicator who is going to be a great fit alongside Richard Matvichuk and Michael Hengen ,” adds Cougars General Manager, Todd Harkins. “He’s learned from some of the very best at this level and he understands what it takes to relate to today’s player off the ice, while also helping them improve on the ice. This is a great hire for our organization.”