Merritt’s Luke Pierce signs on with Kootenay of the Western Hockey League

The news came as no surprise really. He’s just too good of a coach.

An emotional Luke Pierce made it official on Tuesday. His six-year tenure as the head coach and GM of the Merritt Centennials is over.

Pierce, 31, has accepted the position of head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice, based out of Cran-brook. His contract is for three years beginning with the 2015-16 WHL season.

Pierce will be the seventh head coach in the Ice’s distinguished 17-year history. He takes over from Ryan McGill.

“The Western Hockey League has always been the most realistic next step for me,” Pierce said. “I’ve had conversations with other WHL teams in the last couple of off-seasons, but it’s never been quite the right fit.

“I think that’s what got me the most excited after talking to Ice General Manager Jeff Chynoweth and going down to Cranbrook. It just seemed like a fantastic fit for us as a family with three young children.”

Pierce said that he became aware of the available head coaching position in Kootenay through a long-time friend.

“I got a text message from my old coach at Royal Military College in Kingston, Jim Hulton. He went on to be an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers, and is currently the head coach of the Tri-City Storm in the USHL.

“We’ve stayed in touch over the years, and I’ve leaned on him a lot because of his knowledge and experience. I’ve always thought of him as the best coach I ever played for.

“He had heard about the change in Kootenay and contacted me to see if I was interested. Jeff is Dean Chynoweth’s brother and Dean and Jim had coached together at the World Juniors. Jim said that he could put in a good word for me.”

Kootenay first contacted Pierce at the beginning of May and had him send down a resumé and some background information.

“Jeff and I had a really long discussion that first night on the phone,” Pierce said. “I really liked what I heard from him, and his honesty. He was very up front about everything.”

On the Wednesday before the Victoria Day long weekend, Pierce drove down to Cranbrook.

“We sat down and talked all day Thursday, and then again by phone on Tuesday of last week,” Pierce said. “[Jeff] told me they’d be making their decision by this Monday, and on Tuesday, he called and offered me the job.

“In hindsight, it was a pretty short time frame, but at the time, it seemed like an eternity. Everything goes through your mind. It was a stressful couple of weeks.

“This is a great opportunity for my family and me,” Pierce stated in a press release issued by the Ice. “Kootenay has been one of the most successful WHL franchises for the past 17 years. I intend on keeping the strong culture and tradition going despite the expected roster turnover. Hard work gives you a chance to win, and we will definitely be a team that competes each and every game.”

“Luke is one of the bright young coaches coming through the system,” Kootenay’s Chynoweth said in the same press release. “He has coached in Merritt, which is very similar to Cranbrook in terms of his teams achieving on-ice success despite the obstacles faced as a small-market team.

“In speaking with numerous hockey people throughout this process, there was one common theme: his teams come to play and work hard every night, while most importantly getting better as the season progresses.

“Patience and teaching will definitely be needed as we turn over the majority of our roster and ice one of the youngest teams in the WHL this year.”

Pierce has been the head coach and GM of the Merritt Centennials since November of 2009. During that time, his teams have amassed a 168-111-21 regular-season record and qualified for the playoffs all six years. He was chosen the BCHL Interior Conference Coach of the Year in 2012-13, and was an assistant coach for Team Canada West at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge.

“I feel very fortunate to have been the head coach of my hometown team, and want to thank all of the Centennials’ fans, volunteers and partners for their support,” Pierce said. “I especially want to thank (Centennials director of hockey operations) Brian Barrett for his role in helping me grow as a coach and for his constant belief in me. I consider him a great friend and an invaluable mentor.”

In response, Barrett stated that he always knew that Pierce would at some point be plucked away from Merritt and the Centennials’ organization.

“It speaks volumes to Luke’s ability, his dedication and his understanding of the game that this opportunity has come about. I’ve been in contact with all of the club’s board members and they’re all happy for Luke.

“I know that Luke wanted badly to win a championship for this team and this community, but his hands were somewhat tied by our inability to spend money like some teams do. The odds were stacked against him,” Barrett said.

“ I’m confident that things will work out for him. Luke is a tremendous young man.”

Pierce is not the least bit daunted by the jump directly into a head-coaching role in major Junior hockey.

“Most people assume that an assistant coach’s position in the WHL is the next logical step in the progression,” he said. “I’m not really sure that I ever resigned myself to that. I feel confident in my ability to be a head coach in the league. I understand that it is a huge challenge and a big leap. Am I ready and confident enough to do it? Yeah.”

Pierce concedes that he has plenty of research yet to do, and lots of people he wants to talk to who have been in and around the WHL and can help him to better appreciate the differences and nuances.

Having Chynoweth in Cranbrook is a huge bonus according to Pierce.

“Jeff has been there for 17 years, and has seen some great coaches move on — Mark Holick, Cory Clouston, Kris Knoblauch, and so on. I’m going to learn a lot from him.”

Pierce is the first to admit that leaving Merritt, his hometown, will not be easy. It’s where he and his brothers grew up, and where his three young boys have called home.

“It’s meant everything to have gotten my coaching start here.”