Eagles announce hiring of Matt Erhart as team's Head Coach

Press Release

The British Columbia Hockey League's Surrey Eagles are pleased to announce that Matt Erhart has been named the team’s new head coach for the 2010/11 season. He replaces Shane Kuss, who served as Head Coach for the past 3 ½ seasons.

Erhart served as an Assistant Coach and the Director of Scouting for the Eagles this past season. Prior to joining the Eagles, Erhart was the Head Coach of the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the BC Major Midget League.

"We are looking forward to Matt leading the team in a new direction and we think that he's the person for the job," said Chuck Westgard, on behalf of the new Eagles ownership group. "We are enthusiastically looking forward to the 2010/11 season."

"I would like to thank the Surrey Eagles organization for giving me this opportunity," says Erhart. "I am excited and looking forward to guiding the Eagles and building a championship team in Surrey."

Erhart was a member of the 1998 Royal Bank Cup National Junior A Champions with the Surrey Eagles. He earned a NCAA Division I Scholarship to Quinnipiac University, where he was awarded the Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year and still remains one of the highest scoring defensemen in school history.

Also joining the coaching staff will be Gary Nylund who will assume the role of Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development. Nylund is part owner of the team and played in the National Hockey League for Toronto, Chicago, and the New York Islanders.

Other Eagles coaching moves include Jim Babcock being named Assistant Coach and the release of former Assistant Coach Roger Ross.


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)