Rockets fire head coach Adam Foote: ‘A change was necessary’

Adam-Foote

Colorado Avalanche captain Adam Foote announces his retirement from hockey at a news conference in Denver on Friday, April 8, 2011. Foote, 39, is wrapping up his 19th season in the NHL. (Ed Andrieski / AP)

The Kelowna Rockets have fired head coach Adam Foote after a 24-26-4 record this season, the WHL club announced Wednesday.

The Rockets have also named assistant Kris Mallette interim head coach.

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

The Rockets are first in the Western Conference wild-card race, but 15th in the overall standings.

Foote, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and long-time Colorado Avalanche defenceman, was hired by the Rockets in October 2018. He led the team to a 24-23-8 record last season.

Mallette, meanwhile, is in his fifth season as a member of the Rockets’ coaching staff, he was hired as an assistant coach in 2014.

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