Ryan Huska, a three-time Memorial Cup Champion with the Kamloops Blazers, has been named the 24th head coach of the Calgary Flames.

The 47-year-old has been with the Flames organization since the 2014-15 season, and was serving as assistant coach since the 2018-19 season.

“Following a detailed search process, today we are proud to introduce Ryan Huska as Head Coach of the Calgary Flames,” new Flames General Manager Craig Conroy, said.

“While continuity and familiarity are a benefit, we have witnessed first-hand Ryan’s work ethic; he is a clear communicator who builds trust with his players; and he’s a critical thinker with a plan.”

Prior to his time in the NHL, Huska was head coach of the Flames’ AHL affiliate in Adirondack in 2014-15 before the team moved to Stockton. During his four years as an AHL bench boss, Huska posted a 135-118-27 record, but only made the playoffs once, in 2016-17.

“I’m honoured to have earned the trust of Flames ownership, of Craig and the entire management group to coach this team,” Huska added.

“My position coming into this is a little different than most as I know our players very well. We have good people in our dressing room, excellent hockey players who want to win. My job is to inspire them every single day to help get our team to the next level.”

So well-deserved 🔥

The #Flames have named Ryan Huska head coach!

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) June 12, 2023

Huska began his coaching career as an assistant with the Kelowna Rockets in the 2002-03 season, and went to three straight Memorial Cups between 2003 and 2005, winning once in 2004. He then took over as head coach in 2007 and led the Rockets to the WHL championship and the Memorial Cup final in the 2008-09 season.

A native of Trail, B.C., Huska is the winningest head coach in Rockets history, putting up a 303-164-37 record during his seven years in charge.

“Ryan provides 11 seasons of bench experience as a head coach from the WHL and the AHL and over 20 years coaching in total, including knowledge gained as an assistant coach in Calgary for the past five seasons,” Conroy added.

“Ryan has earned this opportunity and we are confident he is the right coach for our team.”

During his time as a Kamloops Blazer, Huska put up 162 points (71 goals and 91 assists) in 247 regular season WHL games.

He then added 38 points (18 goals and 20 assists) in 55 playoff games, and won Memorial Cups in 1992, 1994 and 1995, a record he shares with fellow Blazers Tyson Nash and Darcy Tucker, and Robert Savard, who won titles with Cornwall in 1980 and 1981 and Kitchener in 1982.

Huska is set to become the third former Blazer/Junior Oiler currently serving as an active NHL Head Coach joining Craig Berube in St. Louis and Dean Evason in Minnesota.

👋 @NHLFlames 🤝 pic.twitter.com/AhLSs1IfIf

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) June 12, 2023