With the Airdrie Bisons ready to hit the ice in just a few months, the AAA club now has a coach to lead them.

Former Cochrane Generals Head Coach Dan Gendur will be taking the reins this fall along with Assistant Coach Dustin Taylor.

Gendur, a former draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks, spent the last three seasons with the Generals as an assistant coach and then head coach, where he led them to a Division title and spot in the HJHL Championship last season.

Gendur says it'll be tough to leave the Generals, but the Bisons present a huge opportunity.

"This is one of these jobs that you can never pass up. The players that have gone through, the ability for myself to further my coaching career, it's an opportunity that doesn't happen all the time."

The Bisons announced their intent to move from Strathmore in April after nearby community Okotoks was deemed a AAA centre. They previously played in Airdrie in the early 90's.

Gendur says if there's one thing he hopes to apply to the Bisons from his days in Cochrane, it's the desire to build more than just hockey players.

"Trying to help everybody out, all the players, establish themselves in the community. Not a hockey player but a working person that's going to better the community."

Gendur and Taylor will be joined by General Manager Dale Peters who worked with the Midget AA Lightning last season.

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com