The Spokane Chiefs are locking in their leadership for the long haul. The WHL club announced Monday that head coach Brad Lauer and assistant coach Jake Toporowski have each signed multiyear contract extensions, while George Ross has been promoted to assistant general manager.
Lauer’s new deal builds on a contract that still had one year remaining. The Humboldt, Saskatchewan native originally joined the Chiefs ahead of the 2024-25 season and has quickly made his mark. In just two seasons behind the bench, Lauer has guided Spokane to 96 wins and back-to-back playoff appearances, including a run to the WHL championship series in 2024-25.
Lauer is no stranger to hardware. He was named WHL Coach of the Year following the 2019-20 season with the Edmonton Oil Kings, whom he also led to an Ed Chynoweth Cup title in 2021-22. On the international stage, he earned a bronze medal as an assistant coach with Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships.
“I’m extremely grateful to the organization for the trust and confidence they’ve shown in me with this extension,” Lauer said in a team release. “It’s an honor to continue leading this group and working alongside such a dedicated staff and talented players.”
Chiefs general manager Matt Bardsley echoed that sentiment, praising Lauer’s blend of junior hockey success and NHL experience. “His coaching record in junior has been excellent along with the experience of having a nine-year NHL coaching resume,” Bardsley said. “Even more important is his ability to develop players to not only succeed in the WHL but to advance to the next level with all the skills, habits, and details necessary to be a pro player.”
Toporowski’s extension brings a familiar face back to the bench. The Iowa native spent his entire major junior career with the Chiefs, logging 100 games as a defenseman from 2014 to 2018. He joined the coaching staff ahead of the 2024-25 season and is part of a family legacy—his father, Kerry Toporowski, played for the Chiefs from 1989 to 1991, and his brother, Luke Toporowski, suited up from 2018 to 2022.
“I am excited to continue my coaching career with the Chiefs,” Toporowski said. “I look forward to continuing my development as a coach, along with developing our players and chasing our ultimate goal of winning a Memorial Cup.”
Meanwhile, Ross steps into the assistant GM role after more than a decade with the organization. He has been part of Spokane’s scouting staff since the 2014-15 season and was named director of player personnel ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. In his new capacity, Ross will continue to oversee the scouting department and lead the Chiefs’ efforts in both the WHL Prospects Draft and CHL Import Draft.
The moves signal a vote of confidence in the Chiefs’ current trajectory, with Lauer at the helm and a coaching staff steeped in both Spokane tradition and winning pedigree.
Notably, associate coach Brian Pellerin will not return to the organization.