Yesterday, the Kitchener Rangers announced contract extensions for Head Coach Jussi Ahokas, Associate Coach Jeff Kyrzakos and Assistant Coach Brad Flynn. The trio are now under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season. 

"It's a well-oiled machine the way that they operate," said Rangers' GM Mike McKenzie. "[They make it] a really good team-building culture and have great relationships with the players. It's a fun place to come to every day for the players but it's also a hardworking and accountable environment for them to get better." 

The coaching trio is in the midst of their second full season in Kitchener. Their time together can only be described as a success. Their record as a coaching staff is 79-36-8-1 in 124 games behind the bench in Kitchener. 

Each of the coaches brings their unique background to the table allowing them to create an interesting blend of modern hockey as a unit. 

Ahokas is a 44-year-old Finnish national with extensive coaching experience in his home country of Finland. He's coached in the Finnish professional league as well as coaching at the junior level. 

He's won medals coaching Finnish international teams at the Olympics, World Junior Championships, and World Championship levels. In total, he's won two golds, a silver and three bronze medals. 

While all of Ahokas' coaching experience before Kitchener comes from Europe, the same is not true for the two other members of the coaching staff. 

Kyrzakos, a 40-year-old Canadian national, started his coaching career in the OJHL before joining the Mississauga Steelheads. He acted as an Assistant GM and Assistant Coach for the Mississauga Steelheads between 2016 and 2023. Between the three, he has by far the most OHL coaching experience. 

It should be noted that that Kyrzakos also acts as an assistant GM for the team.

Brady Flynn is a 39-year-old Canadian hailing from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. He has experience coaching in the QMJHL, OHL and WHL. He also has experience at lower levels of junior hockey.

"Once they got the first year out of the way we were pretty confident they'd do an even better job this year," said McKenzie. 

The coaches have certainly accomplished a lot in their first 100 games, but they have more to do this season. 

The Rangers are guaranteed to make the playoffs and currently sit third in the Western Conference. Anyone who wants to make it out of the West knows they will have to battle through London. 

"They've been in first the whole way along ... they're the team to beat right now," said McKenzie. He continued saying London is a tough team to beat because they capitalize on their chances and have plenty of firepower. 

Regardless of who Kitchener runs into in the playoffs, Ahokas, Flynn and Kyrzakos will be leading the team for the foreseeable future.