Meet the Kitchener Rangers' new head coach
The Kitchener Rangers have announced the new head coach will be Chris Dennis.
Dennis’ experience includes nearly a decade in some capacity with the Toronto Maple Leafs, as both an assistant coach and video coach.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Dennis described himself as “honest and fair and hardworking.”
“That’s kind of what I am as a person and what I pride myself on,” Dennis continued. “That’s what I am going to try and convey to this team and the community.”
“We’re going to work hard, we’re going to do our very best, and if we do all those things we should have success on the ice,” said Dennis.
Dennis was named the new head coach a day after the Rangers announced that interim coach Mike Mckenzie would be stepping away from the bench to return as the team’s full-time general manager.
The Kitchener Rangers dressing room is seen in this undated photo. (Krista Sharpe/CTV Kitchener)
“It’s a dream come true to be the head coach of the Kitchener Rangers,” said Dennis in a media release. “It’s a first-class organization that is driven to be one of the best teams in the Canadian Hockey League. Having the necessary people, resources and players in place to make a run and challenge for championships is exciting. The fan base is amazing and it’s a full building most nights. You want that excitement and that passion. Kitchener has that and then some.”
During his time with the Leafs, the Toronto native worked alongside head coaches like the hall of famers Pat Quinn, Ron Wilson, Paul Maurice and Randy Carlisle.
After departing from the Leafs in 2015, Dennis spent two seasons as the head coach at York University where he was acclaimed as the two-time Ontario University Athletics coach of the year.
More recently, Dennis spent the 2021/2022 season with the Barrie Colts as the assistant head coach, and three seasons as the assistant head coach for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League
Last year, the Rangers finished 12th in the league after being defeated by the Windsor Spitfires, who went on to win the western conference.
This year, hopes are high that a big-name coach paired with a full-time general manager can bring the championship back to the city for the first time since 2008.
“We are excited to welcome Chris and the Dennis family to the Rangers,” said McKenzie. “Chris checked all the boxes we were looking at when hiring a new coach. He has valuable head coaching experience from his very successful years at York University.”
McKenzie, who has been with the Rangers in some capacity since 2012, took over the coaching position on an interim basis in 2019 in addition to his general manager duties.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.