By Drew Wilson

Broncos name Viveiros new head coach in Swift Current

Jul 21, 2016 | 12:00 PM

A member of the 1985 Memorial Cup champion Prince Albert Raiders is coming back to the Western Hockey League.

Emanuel Viveiros is the new head coach and director of player personnel for the Swift Current Broncos.

The 50-year-old returns to Saskatchewan after 25 years in Europe, including 15 as a player. Viveiros has coached in Austria for the past seven seasons and was behind the bench of their Olympic national team.

The former all-star defenseman with the Raiders said it was always his intention to return to North America and told the media gathering at the Broncos’ Thursday morning news conference he was thrilled to join the organization.

“It’s a prestigious opportunity, a prestigious job to have,” Viveiros said.

Event Centre funding

City may hire lobbyist for event centre money

11h ago

International honours

Raiders' Kubiesa to represent Czechia at IIHF U18 Men's World Championship

15h ago

Learn the signs

How often should you change your brakes?

19h ago

The native of St. Albert, Alta. who spent four years with the Raiders, said this was an offer he and his wife, a Prince Albert native, couldn’t let slip away.

“We said if we get the chance we would do everything possible to work back in North America and we’re so ecstatic about this opportunity,” he said.   

Viveiros felt the coaching transition from the European game with its larger ice surface back to the North American game will be an easy one, as Swift Current has one of the smaller ice surfaces in the WHL .   

Vivieros holds the franchise record for points by a Raider defenseman with 321 in just 251 games.

He replaces former coach and general manager Mark Lamb who has taken a the head coaching job with the American Hockey League’s Tucson Coyotes.

dwilson@panow.com

On Twitter: RaidersVoice