After much speculation, the Regina Pats finally hired that Edmonton-area native, former WHLer who played in the NHL for the Oilers, as their head coach.
No, not Ryan McGill, although he does meet all the criteria above. The new coach is actually Pat Conacher.
I'm honestly not at all surprised that McGill is not the hire - nor should anyone be, really. I think it was obvious to almost everyone that McGill, at least at this point in his career, is overqualified for just a head coach position in the WHL. He belongs in the pro ranks and presumably that is where he will end up when the music stops and all the pro coaching chairs are occupied.
In Conacher the Pats get a guy with WHL experience as a player and as an assistant coach / assistant G.M. with Chilliwack. He also had a 500+ game NHL career and was a head coach in the AHL for two seasons in the mid-2000's.
With this hiring, all WHL teams now have a head coach heading into 2011-12.
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