With Memorial Cup approaching, Kelowna Rockets fire head coach Adam Foote

KELOWNA, B.C. – The Kelowna Rockets have fired head coach Adam Foote just three months before they host the Memorial Cup.

Assistant coach Kris Mallette has been named interim head coach.

The Toronto-born Foote guided the Rockets to a 24-26-2-2 record this season, his second year with the club after being hired Oct. 23, 2018.

Kelowna was 24-23-6-2 under Foote last season and missed the playoffs.

Foote, 48, played 1,154 career NHL games as a defenceman with Quebec/Colorado and Columbus, winning Stanley Cups with the Avs in 1996 and 2001. He also won Olympic gold with Canada in 2002.

Mallette is in his fifth season as a member of the Rockets’ coaching staff. He’s a Kelowna native and a former Rockets player.

The Rockets will host the four-team Memorial Cup, May 22-31.

“The team has struggled since the Christmas break. With 14 games remaining in the regular season, I felt a change was necessary at this time,” Rockets president/general manager Bruce Hamilton said in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2020.