Moose Jaw Warriors promote Scott King to head coach

Moose Jaw, Sask., – Moose Jaw Warriors General Manager Jason Ripplinger has announced that Associate Coach Scott King has been promoted as the organization’s new Head Coach.

“Scott has been with our organization for a decade, and knows what our goals are on and off the ice. This is an opportunity that he has been working to achieve for a while, and is the right fit for our team moving forward,” said General Manager Jason Ripplinger.

“From an organization standpoint, being able to hire from within is a goal of ours. Scott is familiar with how we operate on a day-to-day basis, and understands the development process for our players to reach the next level,” Ripplinger added.

From Saskatoon, King originally joined the Warriors in 2015 – 2016 as a skills coach; the following year he was named an assistant coach, and in 2023 – 2024, he took on an expanded role as an Associate Coach.

“I am incredibly excited and honoured for this head coaching opportunity. I want to thank the Warriors Board of Directors and Jason (Ripplinger) for their belief and trust in me and my skills,” Scott King said. “My family and I are rooted in Moose Jaw now, and we have seen firsthand how the Board and the entire community are full of good people that care about the team and its success.”

“Junior hockey is a special time in a player’s life, and we want to ensure that we are doing everything we can as an organization and a staff to support, develop, and create a positive, competitive, and supportive environment where every player has the opportunity to grow and reach their full potential on and off the ice,” King added. “Knowing the majority of the roster, I look forward to continuing to build relationships with the current group as well as the new players and staff who will join us. Creating a team that commits,

communicates, and holds each other to a high standard.”

King played in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets in 1996 – 1997, and had 40 goals and 97 points in 68 games. He went on to play 18 seasons of professional hockey in the AHL, ECHL, and in Germany in the DEL, which is the highest division in German Ice Hockey. He played for Canada on four occasions in the Deutschland Cup and was with Adler Mannheim at the 2009 – 2010 Spengler Cup.

After 13 years in Moose Jaw, Mark O’Leary is departing the Friendly City after accepting an assistant coach position with the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League.

“The Warriors want to thank Mark for his years of dedication to our organization and our community. His passion for this club was on display every day,” Ripplinger said. “Mark has worked hard throughout the years, and it’s that work ethic that has earned him this opportunity at the next level. We could not be happier for him and his family.”

From Owen Sound, Ontario, O’Leary joined the Warriors in 2012 as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate coach for the 2018 – 2019 season. He took over as head coach on January 6, 2020.

In six and a half years, he leaves Moose Jaw as the organization’s all-time leader in games coached (416) and wins (191). He was the head coach who led the Warriors to their first WHL Championship in 2024.