KITCHENER — Jussi Ahokas is leaving the Kitchener Rangers after three seasons to become head coach of the Colorado Eagles, the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.
The Rangers and the American Hockey League confirmed the move Friday, less than two months after Ahokas led Kitchener to OHL and Memorial Cup championships.
Ahokas, 45, leaves following one of the most successful coaching tenures in team history. The Rangers compiled a regular-season record of 135-52-13-4 during his three seasons behind the bench, recording at least 40 wins in each campaign.
Kitchener also produced consecutive 100-point seasons for the first time in franchise history. Ahokas’s .703 points percentage is the best recorded by a Rangers head coach, according to the team.
His 135 regular-season victories rank fourth in franchise history behind Peter DeBoer, Joe McDonell and Steve Spott.
“When we hired Jussi three years ago, he always said his goal was to move on to pro hockey and try to reach his goal of coaching in the NHL,” Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie said in a statement.
“While we will miss him in Kitchener, we are happy that he is one step closer to that goal.”
A record-setting tenure in Kitchener
Ahokas joined the Rangers in July 2023 as the 25th head coach in franchise history. Kitchener went 41-23-4-0 in his first season, followed by records of 47-15-4-2 in 2024-25 and 47-14-5-2 in 2025-26.
He was named OHL coach of the year following the 2024-25 season, becoming the first Kitchener coach to receive the award since Joe McDonnell in 1988-89.
The Rangers reached their peak under Ahokas this spring. Kitchener finished first in the OHL’s Western Conference before going 16-2 in the playoffs and defeating the Barrie Colts to win its first league championship since 2008.
The team then went undefeated at the Memorial Cup in Kelowna, B.C., capturing the national major-junior championship for the third time in franchise history. Ahokas became the first European head coach to win both an OHL title and a Memorial Cup.
In total, the Rangers posted a 32-16 playoff record during his three seasons.
“What I will remember in Kitchener is the great people, great organization,” Ahokas said in the team’s announcement. “We got our goal, which was to win, and we got it done.”
Ahokas said accomplishing that goal contributed to his decision to move on.
“It has been a great three years for me and I will never forget it,” he said.
One step closer to the NHL
The move takes Ahokas into North American professional hockey for the first time. The AHL is the NHL’s primary development league, placing him directly inside the Colorado Avalanche organization.
Before arriving in Kitchener, the Oulu, Finland, native built an extensive coaching career in Europe. He coached Finland’s national junior teams at several age levels and led the country to gold at the 2016 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and the 2019 World Junior Championship.
Ahokas also coached KooKoo and TPS in Finland’s top professional league. He was named Liiga coach of the year for the 2019-20 season.
Rangers chief operating officer and governor Joe Birch described Ahokas’s new position as a reflection of his leadership, hockey knowledge and commitment to player development.
“He helped elevate our organization to new heights, culminating in a Memorial Cup championship while leaving a lasting impact on our players, staff and community,” Birch said.
A championship team prepares for change
The Rangers did not identify Ahokas’s successor in Friday’s announcement. Whoever takes over will inherit the challenge of following a championship season while the club prepares to open its 2026-27 schedule at home against the Owen Sound Attack on Sept. 18.
The departure also continues a summer of change behind the Kitchener bench. Goaltending coach Jordan DeKort left the team earlier in July to accept a professional development position with the Nashville Predators.