Malgunas takes hockey career to the next level

After spending the better part of 15 seasons away from home, Stu Malgunas is returning to Prince George where he first got his start in hockey.
As a minor hockey player, Malgunas got his start playing in the Kin Centres and the Coliseum, learning the skills which got the defenceman drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the fourth round in 1990, way before the Prince George Multiplex was even thought of or before the Cougars made the move here.
Now, after spending the past 13 years playing pro hockey around the USA and overseas, Malgunas is looking forward to making the move to behind the bench as the Cougars new assistant coach.
“It’s been a great situation so far for me. My family is here and me and Ed [Cougars head coach Dempsey] have gotten along well. It’s great to be back home I was basically gone for 15 years and I was only home for the summers. It’s been pretty fun so far,” said Malgunas who’s wife Sheryl is also from Prince George.
For the two of them to be able to return home and start a new chapter in their lives close to their family is something which he is looking forward to.
Malgunas played in Germany for the past two seasons with the Frankfurt Lions. After injuring his foot last season Malgunas decided it was time to move on from playing to becoming a coach.
“It’s definitely a transition from player to coach it’s never easy. It’s a completely different mindset. I’ve been feeling more and more comfortable. Both Ed and Dallas [Thompson, Cougars assistant coach] have helped me a lot. This is what I wanted to do when my playing career was finished. Just like anything new it’s never easy. But I find it really interesting,” he said.
For Malgunas, a member of 1990’s gold medal winning Canadian World Junior Team, returning to Prince George where he knows he’s in a hockey town is most gratifying.
“I know what a big hockey town this is. I know if we can do well the kids are heroes and everybody is interested and everyone wants to do well,” said Malgunas who played for the Prince George Spruce Kings in ‘87-’88.