Former Wheat King Ryan Craig Named Head Coach of Vegas Golden Knights

Former Brandon Wheat Kings captain Ryan Craig has reached another milestone in his hockey journey, earning one of the most coveted jobs in the sport after being named head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.

Craig becomes the fifth head coach in franchise history and takes over a team that is coming off a remarkable run to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. The promotion comes after the Golden Knights announced that veteran coach John Tortorella would not return behind the bench next season.

For hockey fans in Brandon, Craig’s appointment carries special significance. The Abbotsford, B.C., product captained the Wheat Kings from 2001 to 2003 and developed a strong relationship with current Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon, who drafted him to Brandon during his tenure with the Western Hockey League club. That connection has now come full circle, with McCrimmon handing Craig his first NHL head coaching opportunity.

After retiring as a player in 2017, Craig joined the Golden Knights organization during its inaugural season as an assistant coach. He spent six seasons on the NHL staff before being named head coach of the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights in 2023. Under his leadership, Henderson enjoyed a franchise-best regular season in 2025-26 and secured a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The 44-year-old has built his entire coaching career within the Golden Knights organization, making him a familiar and trusted choice to guide one of the NHL’s top contenders. His promotion also reflects the organization’s commitment to continuity after nearly a decade of success.

Craig’s rise from Wheat Kings captain to NHL head coach is another proud chapter for Brandon’s hockey history. He joins a distinguished list of Wheat Kings alumni who have gone on to make significant impacts at the professional level, and his appointment further highlights the organization’s reputation for developing future hockey leaders.

As Craig prepares for his first season behind an NHL bench, Wheat Kings fans will undoubtedly be watching closely as one of their former captains takes the reins of a Stanley Cup contender.