Chill coach resigning at season’s end

Degenhardt taking position with old club

This will be coach AJ Degenhardt’s last season with the Coulee Region Chill hockey team.

The 33-year-old NAHL coach and general manager has accepted a position with Team Illinois, a Triple A club where he used to coach.

Degenhardt will take over as director of the midget division for Team Illinois next season, coaching and assisting multiple teams and doing a lot more administrative duties.

So far with the Chill, Degenhardt is 85-72-10. This season, the Chill are 26-21-0 with 13 games remaining. 

In his first full season as coach, Degenhardt won a franchise-record 31 games for the Chill, and led the team to the Midwest Division semifinals.

“From day one I’ve been committed to making the Chill a successful program and am extremely proud of our accomplishments,” Degenhardt said. “I’m excited about working with the Team Illinois group again and helping those young players achieve their dream of playing juniors and college hockey. 

“My focus right now is to have the Chill make the playoffs and continue to advance our players to the college level.”

The Chill are currently fifth in the Midwest division, four points out of fourth and eight points out of third.

Coulee Region Chill owner Michelle Bryant said that the search to replace Degenhardt is underway.