EDMONTON — Fresh off coaching the Edmonton Oil Kings to a Memorial Cup, Derek Laxdal has been hired as head coach of the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars.
The 48-year-old from Gimli, Man., takes over for Willie Desjardins who was recently hired to coach the Vancouver Canucks.
The Oil Kings, who are owned by the Edmonton Oilers, and the Texas Stars made the announcement on their websites Thursday.
The Oil Kings won a pair of Western Hockey League championships during Laxdal’s four seasons behind the bench.
After posting a 50-19-3 record this past season, Edmonton defeated the Guelph Storm 6-3 in the Memorial Cup final.
Laxdal coached the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads to five 40-win seasons and won the Kelly Cup in 2007 prior to his arrival in Edmonton.
The Texas Stars are the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars.