Blades announce 18th coach in team history

The Saskatoon Blades have found their guy.

The team announced its 18th head coach in franchise history Wednesday, Brennan Sonne. Sonne spent the last four years as the head coach of the Ducs d’Angers of the Ligue Magnes — France’s top professional league.

The 34-year old from Maple Ridge, B.C. spent his junior career with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, Red Deer Rebels and the Edmonton Oil Kings before a three-year stint with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds of the CIS.

The former forward then spent one year in Hong Kong, playing for the Tycoons of the China Ice Hockey League.

His coaching career began after that 13-game stint in China, where he joined Everett again as the team’s assistant coach. Sonne worked with former Blades head coach Mitch Love during his time in Everett. Both were assistant coaches at the time.

After spending three years with the team in that role, it was overseas again for Sonne.

He took the head coaching position with the Ducs d’Angers, most recently posting a 17-5-2-1 record in the 2020-21 shortened season.

“I am just extremely grateful, humbled, and honoured for this opportunity,” Sonne stated in the team’s Wednesday morning release. “It’s truly an honour to be a part of such a high-class organization.”

Sonne replaces the departed Love, who took a head coaching position with the AHL’s Stockton Heat on July 12, 2021.

Listen to Sonne’s interview with Jamie and Drew on the Green Zone.