Spokane Chiefs extend head coach Dan Lambert’s contract

The Spokane Chiefs announced Tuesday that head coach Dan Lambert has signed a contract extension to remain with the Western Hockey League team.

The Chiefs didn’t disclose contract terms.

Lambert was hired by the Chiefs prior to the 2017-18 season and has posted a cumulative 81-46-5-8 regular-season record. This season, he led the team to its deepest playoff run since 2011, reaching the Western Conference Championship.

Prior to his time in Spokane, Lambert spent one season (2016-17) as head coach with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) and one season (2015-16) as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

Lambert began his coaching career with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, serving five seasons as an assistant (2009-14) and one season as head coach (2014-15).

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to stay with the Chiefs and eager to build on the success we’ve had so far,” Lambert said. “This has been a great place to coach and our family enjoys calling Spokane home.”

“We’re thrilled to have Dan here in Spokane and looking forward to his continued contributions to our club,” Chiefs general manager Scott Carter said. “He has shown great communication and compassion with our players and fits very well with the Chiefs’ family. We’re excited for the future.”

As a player, Lambert won the 1989 Memorial Cup with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos and was named Memorial Cup MVP before a long professional career that included stints in the NHL, AHL, IHL and German DEL.