Ice sign four to extensions

The Kootenay Ice has signed head coach Mark Holick to a two-year contract extension that runs through 2010-11.
“Mark and his entire coaching staff have done an excellent job with the Hockey Club not only this year, but last season as well,” Jeff Chynoweth, the Ice’s president and general manager, said in a statement. “Despite having the second-youngest team in the WHL and having injuries to key players we have remained in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference and in position to qualify for the postseason. With the majority of our club eligible to return next season and with the improvement shown by our younger players, it is very important that the continuity between the players and head coach continue.”
Holick is the fourth head coach in franchise history. He signed on in August of 2007, replacing Cory Clouston, who left to coach in the Ottawa Senators organization. Clouston, of course, now is the Senators’ head coach.
Holick, who played in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades and New Westminster Bruins, also coached in the BCHL and AJHL.
At the same time, the Ice also extended the contracts of director of scouting Garnet Kazuik, assistant coach Kris Knoblauch and athletic therapist Brad Shaw through 2010-11.
Kazuik, who played for the Brandon Wheat Kings, Moose Jaw Warriors and Regina Pats, is completing his second season as director of scouting after working for two seasons as one of the team’s Alberta scouts.
Knoblauch joined the Ice coaching staff in August 2007 after playing three seasons in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels, Ice and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He spent one season as an assistant coach with the Prince Albert Raiders before joining the Ice.
Shaw has been with the Ice since May 2007. He joined Kootenay after three seasons as the head athletic therapist with baseball’s Winnipeg Goldeyes.
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