Movin’ on up: Pats promote Herauf to head coach

The Regina Pats didn’t have to look far to find a new head coach.

He was just down the bench from his predecessor.

The WHL team announced Thursday that Brad Herauf — who had been a Pats assistant coach since 2015 — had been promoted to succeed John Paddock as head coach. Paddock announced his retirement Monday.

And the 40-year-old is also staying close to home — he grew up in the Queen City watching Pats games.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to have for the last eight years. I’ve been biding my time and working under great coaches,” Herauf said. “Being a hometown person, it’s a gift and a curse sometimes. It’s something that’s so special when you’re winning and you have so much support and friends and family.

“Sometimes when you’re losing, it’s a small place to live. That’s the great part of this job and career — it’s the highs and lows of it.”

Alan Millar, who was named the Pats’ new general manager on Monday, said it was pretty clear early on that Herauf was the right candidate for the job.

“I’ve had respect for Brad from a distance in terms of what he has done here and my dealings with him on the Pat (Canadians),” Millar said. “There’s still lots for him and I to do together and get to know each other … I look forward to that.

“I’ve had discussions with John and what he thinks of Brad and what he thinks of Brad’s potential as a head coach and there was a connection of trust and loyalty.”

Herauf served as the Pats’ interim head coach in the second half of the 2021-22 regular season while Paddock dealt with an illness.

After a junior career in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (Estevan Bruins and North Battleford North Stars), Herauf played professionally in the Central Hockey League (Oklahoma City Blazers and Utah Grizzlies), East Coast Hockey League (Florida Everblades) and American Hockey League (Albany River Rats and Charlotte Checkers) from 2003 to ’11.

Following his playing career, Herauf served as head coach of the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians from 2013 to ’15.

Herauf said he wanted to become a WHL head coach “the right way.”

“I had other opportunities come up where I could have fast-tracked a few things, but I knew what I had in front of me with working with a person like Dave Struch and John Paddock,” Herauf said. “I wasn’t in a rush and being in my hometown, it was easy to stay home.”

Herauf said he is a competitive person and expects a Pats team that will embody that.

“I try my best in every single possible thing I can do. I believe in our hockey team. You will see a very competitive group. We are where we are right now but with the players, their effort is going to be something that is at the forefront every night,” Herauf said.

The Pats said a search is underway to fill the assistant coaching job left vacant by Herauf’s promotion.

The Pats will hit the ice in late August for training camp, with the pre-season starting Sept. 8. The Pats are to open the regular season on the road against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Sept. 22.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Britton Gray