Overview
- The Colorado Avalanche announced Friday that Jussi Ahokas will be the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, marking his first North American professional coaching job.
- Multiple outlets reported that Ahokas was interviewed by the Vancouver Canucks and offered the Abbotsford Canucks head-coaching job on Thursday but declined that offer before signing with Colorado.
- Ahokas arrives with a strong junior and international resume after guiding the Kitchener Rangers to the 2025–26 OHL title and the Memorial Cup and winning gold with Finland at the 2019 World Juniors and 2016 U18s.
- The Eagles will task Ahokas with both winning games and preparing NHL-ready players for the Avalanche, a dual mandate highlighted by Eagles GM Kevin McDonald who praised Ahokas’s track record in development-focused roles.
- The hire continues a recent trend of successful junior coaches moving into pro jobs and leaves the Canucks still searching for an Abbotsford coach as Vancouver’s front office turnover reshapes its appeal to candidates.