TRU appoints Lorne Cumming as new head coach for WolfPack hockey

The Kamloops Collegiate Hockey Society (KCHS) is pleased to announce that the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack hockey team has a new head coach and assistant. Following a successful inaugural campaign in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League, the WolfPack have named Lorne Cumming head coach and Steve Gainey as the new assistant coach.

Cumming takes over from Chris Hans, who will focus on building the team’s long and short-term recruiting strategies as well as potential crossover schedules with other Canadian Collegiate programs and the NCAA. Chris will also play a supporting role in representing the Wolfpack at the BCIHL league governance level.

“I’m excited to get back into the role of head coach in a competitive league, and look forward to building a group of players into a team that functions as a synchronized unit,” says the 43-year old Cumming.

His coaching resume includes being the first head coach and general manager of the Chase Chiefs and of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (2007-08). He has also been involved with various levels of both minor and junior hockey including the role of advance scout for the Western Hockey League Vancouver Giants. Cumming will continue that role if it doesn’t interfere with his work with the WolfPack.

“The TRU WolfPack hockey team will be built from a very hard working, energized group of players that will bring a high level of skill and competitiveness to the proud TRU WolfPack Athletics Family,” Cumming adds.

The father of four (Devon, Matt, Robyn and Cory) has been married to Lynette for 23 years and is an employee at Domtar in Kamloops. He played hockey in the early 1980’s in the BC Junior Hockey League.

Steve Gainey is a former NHL player (Dallas and Phoenix) and Kamloops Blazer alumni (1994-99) who spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Blazers. Andre Larouche will remain as goaltending coach with the WolfPack.

“WolfPack hockey will be high energy, high intensity hockey where the skill of our players will be matched by their solid defensive play,” Cumming adds. “We want to fill our bench with a group of committed student athletes that are eager to pursue their individual potential, and our group’s potentials at all times. Our players on-ice efforts and success will support their success as young people in the classroom and I think that is an excellent balance to have at this stage of their lives.”

The WolfPack had a record of 16-8 this season. They finished second in the BCIHL regular season and playoffs.

KCHS President Mitchell Zulinick says, “The opportunity to add quality hockey people like Lorne and Steve to our program is exciting for us. It is simply another step in building a program that will be the class of the BCIHL and gets us closer to winning a league championship. We are excited to build on our inaugural season success and achieve higher goals. We are very confident in Lorne and Steve and know they will offer outstanding coaching and leadership to our group.”

“We welcome Lorne and Steve to the WolfPack family,” said Athletic Director Ken Olynyk. “ After the success that Chris achieved last season, I know that they’ll try their best to maintain and even improve upon it in 2010-11.”

Planning and preparation is well under way for the upcoming TRU WolfPack season and many league decisions will be made at the May 15-16, 2010 when WolfPack Hockey hosts the BCIHL league AGM at TRU.