Brad Lauer is back in the Western Hockey League (WHL) as the Spokane Chiefs have named the Humboldt product the team's new head coach.
The past two seasons Lauer has been an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets. Prior to joining the Jets, Lauer was behind the bench as head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings leading them to a WHL Championship in 2021-22. During that season the Oil Kings established new franchise records for longest win-streak in a single season (14 games) and best winning percentage (.765).
In 2019-20, Lauer became the first Oil Kings coach to be named WHL Coach of the Year. In each of the four seasons Lauer spent in Edmonton, the Oil Kings won the Central Division in the WHL's Eastern Conference.
The 57-year-old previously spent time in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, and Ottawa Senators as an assistant coach.
He was also an assistant coach in the American Hockey League with the Syracuse Crunch and the Milwaukee Admirals.
After a junior career with the Regina Pats, Lauer was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round (34th overall) of the 1985 NHL Draft. He spent time in the NHL with the Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins. recording 111 points (44G-67A) in 323 games,