Pearn Front Runner For Oil King Job

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It appears that the Edmonton Oil Kings vacant head coaching job is Perry Pearn's to turn down. Pearn was supposed to join TPS Tuesday night, but travel plans changed and he wasn't able to guest on the show. He did, through text message, tell us he does have interest in the job, the The Pipeline Show has learned from several sources that if Pearn wants the job, he has it.



Pearn is currently an Assistant Coach with the Montreal Canadiens. He held the same job with the New York Rangers for 6 years before that, and for 8 years in Ottawa before that. He also spent a year on the bench of the Winnipeg Jets and was the head coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Pearn was first discovered when coaching the NAIT Ooks of the Alberta College Athletics Conference, leading the Ooks to a perfect season in 1984-85.

Every person I've talked to about Pearn - from former players to other coaches - has told me Pearn is one of the best teachers and technical coaches around. Exactly what the up and coming Oil Kings need.

Why would he return to the WHL? To be a head coach, which might get him behind the bench with an NHL team. And if it doesn't get him a head coach job, I'm confident he could move behind a bench as an assistant once again.

If Pearn isn't named head coach of the OK kids (if he turns it down) I would expect Steve Hamilton to get the gig. Also Derek Laxdall who was interviewed by the club for the job and was well received by the team, should get interviews by a few AHL teams. Currently Hamilton, Manitoba and Rochester have openings.