The Vancouver Victory junior hockey team fired head coach John Nogatch prior to the team’s game on Saturday against the Yellowstone Quake.
The team promoted Dave Petrino to head coach. Petrino had been assisting Nogatch with coaching duties and helping general manager Robin Reese.
Owner Andrew Vilcauskas confirmed the coaching change but declined to talk specifically about reasons for the move.
“We did decide to make a coaching change. We decided it was in the best interest of our hockey team,” Vilcauskas said.
Efforts to reach Nogatch for comment were not successful.
“We love (Petrino’s) coaching style and what he is doing,” Vilcauskas said. “We’re excited.”
After a 9-0 home loss on Monday to the Yellowstone Quake, Vancouver is 9-6 and in third place in the Northern Pacific Hockey League. The visitors from Cody, Wyo., were 6 for 11 on the power play on Monday.
The Victory, who visit Eugene on Tuesday, won their first two games after the coaching change, beating Yellowstone 8-7 in overtime on Saturday and 5-4 on Sunday.
