OWNERSHIP GROUP

Governor – Eric Brewer

President – John Pateman

Alternate Governor – Ernest Ouellet

Dan Hamhuis

Ray Fortier

HOCKEY OPERATIONS

Mark Lamb- General Manager & Head Coach

Mark Lamb was named the 13th Head Coach in Prince George Cougars franchise history on July 4, 2019, one year after being appointed General Manager.

Lamb brings a championship pedigree and over 17 years of coaching and management experience to Prince George. He is the second-winningest coach in Cougars history and was honoured as both the WHL’s Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year for the 2023–24 season. Before joining the Cougars, Lamb spent seven seasons as the General Manager and Head Coach of the Swift Current Broncos (2009–2016). His 2015–16 Broncos roster included five players — among them Glenn Gawdin and Tyler Steenbergen — who went on to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2018.

Lamb began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach with the Edmonton Oilers in 2001–02, followed by six seasons behind the bench with the Dallas Stars (2002–2009).

As a player, Lamb was known for his creativity, playmaking ability, and relentless work ethic. He enjoyed a 13-year professional career, appearing in over 400 NHL regular-season games with Calgary, Detroit, Edmonton, Ottawa, Philadelphia, and Montreal. He earned a Stanley Cup championship with the Edmonton Oilers in 1990.

Jim Playfair – Associate Coach

Jim Playfair enters his third season as Associate Coach of the Prince George Cougars. A Fort St. James, BC native, Playfair brings an extensive coaching background featuring 15 years behind NHL benches as both a Head Coach and Associate Coach. His NHL stops include the Calgary Flames, Arizona Coyotes, and Edmonton Oilers.

Playfair also spent significant time developing players in the American Hockey League (AHL), serving in coaching roles with the Calgary Flames’ affiliates in Saint John and Abbotsford. Prior to reaching the NHL and AHL ranks, he guided teams in the International Hockey League (IHL) with the Michigan K-Wings and in the ECHL with the Dayton Bombers.

Before transitioning to coaching, Playfair was selected 20th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1982 NHL Draft. He appeared in 21 NHL games with the Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks and logged substantial AHL time with the Nova Scotia Oilers, where he collected 40 points over 174 games.

Playfair’s roots trace back to the Western Hockey League, where he starred with the Portland Winterhawks and Calgary Wranglers. His junior career included a WHL Championship in 1982 and a Memorial Cup title in 1983 with Portland, finishing his WHL tenure with 23 goals and 55 assists.

Carter Rigby – Assistant Coach

Carter Rigby enters his fourth season as an Assistant Coach with the Prince George Cougars. Before joining the Cougars’ staff, Rigby spent three seasons behind the bench with the Osoyoos Coyotes of the KIJHL (2019–2022), helping develop and mentor young talent at the junior level.

A former WHL power forward, Rigby played five seasons in the league with the Prince George Cougars, Kelowna Rockets, and Swift Current Broncos. Originally selected by the Cougars in the 2009 WHL Prospects Draft, he capped off his junior career in Swift Current, where he played his 20-year-old season under current Cougars Head Coach and General Manager Mark Lamb.

A Penticton native, Rigby brings a mix of experience, energy, and familiarity with the organization to the Cougars’ bench.

Taylor Dakers- Goaltending Coach

Taylor Dakers brings a wealth of experience to the Prince George Cougars, now entering his eighth season with the organization. Before joining the Cougars, Dakers spent five seasons on the coaching staff of the Red Deer Rebels, following a year with the Everett Silvertips.

A Langley, BC native, Dakers played four WHL seasons with the Kootenay ICE (2003–2007). His strong junior career led to his selection by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round (140th overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft. He went on to play two seasons in the Sharks organization, splitting time between the AHL’s Worcester Sharks and the ECHL’s Phoenix Roadrunners.

Dane Engelhardt- Equipment Manager

Dane Engelhardt joined the Prince George Cougars during the 2021–22 season and has been a key part of the team’s operations ever since. The Regina, SK native brings a diverse and well-rounded background in equipment management, with experience across multiple leagues and sports.

Before arriving in Prince George, Engelhardt worked in equipment roles with the Regina Pats and Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, the Macon Mayhem of the SPHL, and even the Regina Red Sox baseball club. His versatile professional experience and attention to detail make him an integral part of the Cougars’ day-to-day success.

Dave Adolph – Athletic Therapist

Dave Adolph enters his second season with the Prince George Cougars, bringing a deep foundation of high-performance and sport medicine expertise to the organization.

A Prince George native, Adolph most recently served as the Director of High Performance at Engage Sport North, where he oversaw elite training programs for UNBC’s women’s and men’s soccer and basketball teams, Canadian Sport School athletes, and the Indigenous Athlete Training Program. His résumé also includes eight seasons as the Athletic Therapist for the UBC Thunderbirds (2007–2015) and three years as Head Athletic Therapist for the Canadian National Women’s Soccer Program (2004–2007).

Liam Magrath – Assistant Equipment Manager