Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Kraus Back In Vipers' Den:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Kraus back in Vipers' den

posted Jul 22, 2014

Morning Star Staff

Kevin Kraus is the new assistant coach of the B.C. Hockey League Vernon Vipers.

“This is where Kevin has always wanted to be,” said Viper head coach/GM Jason Williamson. “His heart has always been with the Vernon Vipers organization and I know he will bring that passion to coaching this team.  Kraus has run his own program at the Junior B level and has experience coaching in the BCHL. He will add a lot to our program and the development of our players.”

Kraus, a 24-year-old native of Huntington Beach, California, spent last season as an assistant coach with the Salmon Arm SilverBacks.

Prior to that he was the head coach and GM of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Revelstoke Grizzlies for two seasons. Kraus replaces Kris Mallette, who joined the WHL Kelowna Rockets as an assistant.

He has an extensive playing career which began in the WHL with Kamloops and Tri-City. After two seasons there, he spent the rest of his junior career with the Vernon Vipers, winning two national championships one of which he was the captain. He played 154 games, including playoffs.

Said Kraus: “I am very excited about this opportunity.  This is always where I have wanted to be and I am very excited to become a Viper again. I am looking forward to working with Jason and the rest of the Vipers staff on building another championship team.”

Kraus is currently in California and will be back here in early August.

1 comment:

vipersdiehardfan said...

Great news to see former Vipers captain Kevin Kraus return to Vernon to join the Vipers coaching staff. I think since leaving the Vipers, Kevin has done a great job in the coaching ranks climbing up the ladder along the way.

I think Kevin did the right thing by starting out in the KIJHL and working his way up to Junior A. Kraus seemed to do very well as a young Head Coach-GM in Revelestoke. I heard from a few Viper fans that the team, the players and parents loved Kevin and the kids really enjoyed playing for him.

Kevin's leadership, experience and being a former Viper captain winning back to back RBC Cups will add a ton of experience to the Vipers bench both on and off the ice.

Kevin will be the Vipers fourth Assistant Coach in the last four years.

Welcome back to Vernon Kevin, and all the best behind the bench this coming season.