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A former Kamloops hockey star is getting his chance at being an NHL head coach.
According to the Minnesota Wild, the team fired Bruce Boudreau this morning. General Manager Bill Guerin announced that current assistant Dean Evason would take over head coaching duties in an interim role.
Evason is in his second season with the Wild after spending six seasons in the AHL as the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals. With Milwaukee, he had a career record of 242-161-53. He also was an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals from 2005 to 2012.
Originally from Winnipeg, Evason played three seasons with the Kamloops Junior Oilers from 1981 to 1984. In 171 career games, he scored 141 goals to go along with 377 points.
After collecting 372 points in 803 NHL games with the Capitals, Hartford Whalers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames, Evason began his coaching career in the Western Hockey League. He returned to Kamloops in 1999 and coached the Blazers for three seasons.
For more on the hiring, click here.