The University of Alabama Chargers have named former Vernon Lakers forward Lance West new head coach.
West played four seasons at the University of Alabama (1991-1995) also spent twelve seasons as an assistant coach with the Chargers from 1995-1998, 2000-2007 & 2018-2020 in between also spent eleven seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks from 2007-2018.
West started his junior hockey career with his hometown Penticton Knights before joining the 1988-89 Vernon Lakers. West played parts of one season in Vernon (1988-89) collected (5-goals-20-assists-25-points) in 38 games with the Lakers before being traded to the Kelowna Spartans.
Lance West's Player Profile:
This was posted on the Chargers website:
Lance West Named Head Coach of UAH Hockey
7/22/2020
HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville Department of Athletics has announced the promotion of Lance West to head coach of the UAH hockey program on Wednesday after two seasons as an assistant on the Chargers bench.
"We are excited to officially announce Lance as head coach of the UAH hockey program," Director of Athletics Dr. Cade Smith said.
"He has a deep understanding of what UAH hockey means to the community and an incredible pedigree within the college hockey landscape. We believe Lance will be successful in continuing the regrowth of the program and will attract successful student-athletes to UAH."
"I am honored to be named head coach of The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey program," West said. "I want to thank President Dr. Darren Dawson and Dr. Cade Smith for the opportunity to lead the Charger hockey."
"I have spent 18 years either playing or coaching with the program, and I am very aware of and share the passion of our alumni and fan base for UAH hockey. The challenges that lie ahead are tough, but I am excited to work together with the young men, staff and The University that have committed to making this a successful program."
West – a four-year letterwinner for UAH from 1991-95 – returned to Huntsville in 2018-19 as an assistant coach after a 10-season stint at fellow WCHA member Alaska Fairbanks where he was an assistant for nine campaigns before guiding the squad to the conference playoffs as interim head coach in 2017-18.
Overall in his time with the Nanooks, West helped lead the team to six winning seasons in addition to the program's first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2009-10.
Prior to Alaska, West served as an assistant coach for UAH for a total of seven seasons from 2000-07 when he helped the team to a pair of College Hockey America regular season championships, four conference tournament appearances and one NCAA tournament berth.
Moreover, West was a volunteer assistant coach for the Chargers from 1995-98 following his playing career, aiding the squad in winning the NCAA Division II National Championships in 1996 and 1998.
During his playing career with the Chargers, the Penticton, British Columbia, native appeared in 106 career games and amassed 108 points on 43 goals and 65 assists over four seasons as a forward on the squad.
West is now the sixth head coach in program history.
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