WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders fire head coach ahead of playoff push

Prince Albert Raiders head coach Jeff Truitt is seen in this photo (John Flatters/CTV News)

The Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Prince Albert Raiders have fired head coach Jeff Truitt, the team announced Monday.

“This was a decision not made lightly,” General Manager Curtis Hunt said in a media release. “We are appreciative of all the work Jeff has done, from our championship team to today. We wish him the best of luck as he moves forward.”

With just six games remaining in the regular season, the Raiders sit atop the WHL’s East Division with a 34-22-5-1 record - one point ahead of the second place Saskatoon Blades.

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In December, Truitt took a medical leave of absence from the team after undergoing eye surgery.

He made his return behind the bench at the end of January.

Truitt joined the Raiders in the 2018-19 season as an assistant coach, where Prince Albert won their second WHL title in franchise history. In 2022-23, he was promoted to head coach.

In his time as head coach in Prince Albert, Truitt had a 93-91-10-4 record.

Truitt’s WHL coaching career began in the 1993-94 season, spending three seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes as an assistant. He also has spent time with the Red Deer Rebels and Kelowna Rockets, where he won a Memorial Cup in 2004.

He has won three WHL Championships as both a head and assistant coach during his tenure.

As a result of the firing, Ryan McDonald has been named interim head coach, the team said. McDonald also served as interim during Truitt’s leave of absence.

Prince Albert has lost nine of their last 17 games since the start of February.

The Raiders next take the ice Wednesday in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes.