In his one and only season as a head coach in the Western Hockey League, guided the Kelowna Rockets to within one goal of a Memorial Cup championship.

Two years and two professional stops later, the 47-year-old St. Boniface, MB native is back in major junior hockey, this time behind the bench of the Spokane Chiefs.

On Wednesday night, Lambert will get a whole new perspective of his former team when the Chiefs play host to the Rockets at the Spokane Arena.

害羞草研究所淚 have to view it as just another game, but there will be some emotion attached to it for sure,害羞草研究所� said Lambert, who spent seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Rockets before taking the reins in 2014-15. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l have to get used to seeing Rockets害羞草研究所� jerseys in a different way now. It害羞草研究所檚 going to be special for sure, especially when we go into Kelowna for the first time.

害羞草研究所淭hey were special times,害羞草研究所� he added, 害羞草研究所渂ut for the players, it should just be another game.害羞草研究所�

In his eight seasons in Kelowna, Lambert formed more than a few bonds, particularly with athletic therapist Scott Hoyer and, in his final season, with rookie assistant coaches Kris Mallette and Travis Crickard.

Lambert and his colleagues all had a hand in leading the Rockets to the and a trip to Quebec City for the Canadian Hockey League championship.

Lambert said it was an experience that he害羞草研究所檒l never forget and one that had a role in shaping him as a coach.

害羞草研究所淲e were pretty much a rookie staff that year, and it was sort of a learn-as-you-go situation,害羞草研究所� said Lambert, who spent one season with the NHL害羞草研究所檚 Buffalo Sabres and another with the AHL害羞草研究所檚 Rochester Americans after leaving Kelowna. 害羞草研究所淚t was a rocky road for awhile, but our new players (Leon Draisaitl and Josh Morrissey) settled in and we went on to have a great year.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 like to think I害羞草研究所檝e grown as coach since,害羞草研究所� Lambert added. 害羞草研究所淚 got to learn from my experiences and work with some smart, intelligent hockey people. I haven害羞草研究所檛 changed as a person, but hopefully I害羞草研究所檝e matured as a coach.害羞草研究所�

Kris Mallette, now in his fourth year as an assistant in Kelowna, said his one season working with Lambert was a formative and memorable phase of his coaching career.

害羞草研究所淲e were expected to win that year, we went through a lot together, and to see how we dealt with it and overcame the challenges to be successful is something you remember,害羞草研究所� said Mallette. 害羞草研究所淚t was a good experience to work under Dan.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a coach that害羞草研究所檚 very passionate, but I think his biggest strength is his ability to relate to and communicate with the players. He cares and that goes a long way in holding the guys accountable and getting them to play as a team.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淒an is just one of those guys who is a real nice person, we think of him more as a friend and we害羞草研究所檙e glad he landed on his feet,害羞草研究所� said Rockets president and GM Bruce Hamilton. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檒l do a real good job there in Spokane, he害羞草研究所檚 got a chance to coach a pretty good team, so I expect he害羞草研究所檒l do well with them.害羞草研究所�

Lambert and the Chiefs will visit Kelowna for the first time on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

Rocket Shots害羞草研究所�

Rockets forwards Dillon Dube (upper body) and Jack Cowell (lower) are expected back in the lineup Wednesday when Kelowna visits the Chiefs. Both were missing from the lineup in the Rockets害羞草研究所�

Also absent were forwards Kole Lind (virus) and Nolan Foote (upper body) who remain sidelined on a day-to-day basis and won害羞草研究所檛 play before the weekend.

Forward Erik Gardiner continues to be week-to-week with a head injury suffered when he blocked a shot Oct. 27 against the Tri-City Americans.

害羞草研究所淚f we have (Gardiner) back by Christmas, I think we害羞草研究所檇 be happy,害羞草研究所� said Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton.

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