If the NHL is a goal, coaching the Colorado Eagles is the spot for you. <\/p>\n
The Avalanche on Friday identified the next head coach for their AHL team, and it appears they found one who could be on an NHL track.<\/p>\n
Jussi Ahokas, a 45-year-old Finn, will be the head coach of the Eagles next season. He replaces Mark Letestu, who recently left the organization to be an assistant coach for the Vegas Golden Knights. Prior to Letestu, Aaron Schneekloth exited to be an assistant for the Seattle Kraken, while Greg Cronin was hired to be the coach of the Anaheim Ducks.<\/p>\n
\u201cJussi has done a great job with every team and every league he\u2019s been a part of as a head coach, and we\u2019re excited to welcome him into the Avalanche and Eagles family,\u201d Avalanche Assistant General Manager and Eagles General Manager Kevin McDonald said. \u201cHis track record of winning games in a variety of leagues and international tournaments is impressive, and he\u2019ll be a great fit for our team in Loveland.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ahokas has been on the radar for NHL teams this summer as an up-and-coming coach and reportedly turned down an offer to run the AHL team for the Vancouver Canucks. He most recently served as the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League\u2019s Kitchener Rangers for the past three seasons. In 2025-26, Ahokas led the Rangers to an OHL championship, as well as a Memorial Cup championship. <\/p>\n
Ahokas went 135-52-13-4 as coach of the Rangers.<\/p>\n
Prior to his move to the OHL, Ahokas spent four years coaching in the top professional league in Finland and was named Coach of the Year in 2020. He coached Finland\u2019s U-20 World Junior Championship team to a gold medal in 2019 and has gold and silver medals coaching its U-18 teams. He also was a video coach for Finland\u2019s bronze medal-winning hockey team at the 2010 Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
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