Jim Hiller has been named the new head coach of the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings.
Hiller was named the team’s interim head coach earlier this year after the firing of coach Todd McLellan. On Wednesday, May 22, the Kings announced that Hiller had been promoted to full-time head coach, the 30th in franchise history.
Hiller, originally from Port Alberni, spent two seasons as head coach for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BC Hockey League. He guided the Bulldogs to their most successful regular season in club history, going 43-12-3-2 in the 2005-06 season.
After leaving the Bulldogs, Hiller spent the next eight seasons in the Western Hockey League before embarking on his NHL coaching career with the Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Islanders. Hiller joined the Kings as an assistant coach two years ago.
Hiller is expected to be formally unveiled as the LA Kings’ head coach in a press conference on Thursday, May 23.