After 11 years in the organization, including four as head coach, the 麻豆精选 Rockets have relieved Kris Mallette of his duties.
Named an assistant coach this past summer, Derrick Martin has been named the team's interim head coach.
The team made the announcement on Friday, Jan. 10.
鈥淚 think it was just time for a change. It鈥檚 a tough day, but it鈥檚 a fresh start," said Rockets President and General Manager Bruce Hamilton in a press release.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 thank Kris enough for what he鈥檚 done for our organization. He鈥檚 been with us longer than anybody has been in the organization, maybe other than Scott Hoyer. He was all class when I met him today and he鈥檚 a really good person. He鈥檚 going to land on his feet and get another hockey job in a hurry. He鈥檚 had tremendous success at the international level, and we wish him nothing but the best.鈥�
Mallette was promoted from assistant coach to interim head coach in February 2020 and officially became head coach one month later. He led the Rockets to a record of 121-107-19, and three playoff appearances.
After 麻豆精选's 6-3 win over the Prince George Cougars on Friday night, Hamilton met with the media and admitted he started thinking about the coaching change for "a few weeks."
"Two, three weeks ago I thought we were starting to look like a team that was kind of content to be where they are and not doing what we need to do," said Hamilton.
Martin takes the reigns as head coach in an interim role. Prior to joining the Rockets this past summer, he spent the 2023-24 season as the general manager and head coach of the Camrose Kodiaks. He has also spent time as assistant and head coach of the Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) Edmonton U15 Prep, as well as an assistant coach with the Spruce Grove Saints.
Additionally, he led Team Alberta, which featured Rockets prospects Owen Hayden and Nathan Cole, to a gold medal at the 2024 WHL Cup in Red Deer.
鈥淚 think that it鈥檒l give Derrick an opportunity as he鈥檒l be the interim head coach and will give us an opportunity to get these players a new voice," said Hamilton.
鈥淚鈥檇 say it鈥檚 been a tough week. We moved some of our best players and acquired some solid, good young people that are joining our organization. I just felt that with the new players here, if we were going to make a coaching change that now would be appropriate time."
With Martin in the head coaching role, the Rockets have hired Liam McOnie as an assistant coach. He's returning to the Rockets after being with the organization as a consultant during the 2021-22 season while he was the head coach general manager and head coach of the North Okanagan Knights at the same time.
Over the last eight years, he's also been a goaltending consultant for the Tri-City Americans.
McOnie was named head coach and general manager of the KIJHL's Sicamous Eagles in May 2024.
鈥淔irstly, we would like to thank the Sicamous Eagles board for allowing Liam to leave,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淟iam has had success at the junior level both in coaching and management and came highly recommended."
Friday night's win was Martin's first as a WHL head coach. He described the day as "a rollercoaster of emotions", adding he found out the news as he arrived to Prospera Place on Friday morning.
"It was one of those things where you don't expect it but I tell our players all the time that on the other side of uncomfortable is growth," said Martin.
"[Mallette] brought me into this league and gave me an opportunity and he turned into a really, really close friend that I admire a lot so to not be able to come to work with him every day hurts a little bit," added Martin.
After he got the news, the first two people Martin talked to were his wife and his mom, "my two biggest fans."
