Flames & Wranglers Shuffle Their Coaching Decks

At the beginning of December, Calgary Flames assistant coach Brad Larsen stepped away from the team for personal reasons.

Although there is no timetable for his return, the organization made some coaching changes late Sunday afternoon to fill in for Larsen until he returns.

Following a 3-0 loss to the Henderson Silver Knights, Flames general manager Craig Conroy called up Trent Cull to assist at the NHL level after guiding the Calgary Wranglers (20-9-1) to the best record in the AHL.

This will be Cull’s second stint behind an NHL bench, previously serving under Bruce Boudreau with the Vancouver Canucks in 2022-23. Upon being fired from that post, he’s been leading the Wranglers since the start of last season, compiling a 55-37-10 record.

Meanwhile, Wranglers assistant coach Joe Cirella will take over the head coaching duties with the AHL team. He’s been an assistant coach with the club since 2018 when they were playing in Stockton.

Outside of a brief turn as an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers in 1997-98, Cirella spent 15 years in the OHL and is now assuming his first head coaching role at any level.

Although these coaching changes are effective immediately, the Flames do not play again until Saturday, Dec. 27, against the San Jose Sharks, while the Wranglers will not skate again until Monday, Dec. 30, when they face Abbotsford.