A Coquitlam hockey coach is heading to the NHL.
Justin Rai has been hired by the Seattle Kraken as its new player development consultant less than two months ahead of the 2022-23 season, which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 7.
The 28-year-old from Surrey spent the last three seasons with the Coquitlam Express.
He was first hired as a skills coach in 2019 before earning a promotion to the bench as an associate head coach in January for the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign.
The latter season ended in a seven-game first-round playoff exit to the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Rai is joining Seattle staff under director of player development Jeff Tambellini — a Port Moody product who played 242 games in the NHL and more than 100 in European professional leagues.
Rai owns and operates the development agency, Kaivo Hockey.
According to SBNation, his company has worked with NHL players and propsects that include Adam Gaudette, Nic Petan and three-season Coquitlam Express alum Alexander Kerfoot.
Before joining the coaching ranks, Rai's junior playing career took him took him to Richmond and Prince George.
He spent one season at the University of Maine for NCAA Div. I hockey prior to returning home in 2016 to suit up with the UBC Thunderbirds.
After training camp, the Coquitlam Express are schedule to start its 2022-23 season with three home games at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex:
- Sept. 23, 7 p.m. vs. Prince George Spruce Kings
- Sept. 30, 7 p.m. vs. Merritt Centennials
- Oct. 2, 3 p.m. vs. Surrey Eagles
The team's first of three home preseason games takes place Sept. 3, also against Surrey.
