Brennan Sonne Hired As Coachella Valley Firebirds Assistant Coach

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — The Coachella Valley Firebirds announced Monday the hiring of Brennan Sonne as an assistant coach, joining newly-named head coach Derek Laxdal.

The 37-year-old Sonne is departing the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League. He led the team to a league-best 105-point record of 50-13-5 in 2023-24. It was the first time the Blades had reached a triple-digit point total in back-to-back seasons, following his 101-point campaign in 2022-23 that earned him a WHL Coach of the Year award.

"Brennan is a great addition to our coaching staff. He's an up-and-coming coach who has a proven track record in the (Western Hockey League) of building relationships and developing players," said Laxdal in a statement. "We're excited to have him join myself, Stu Bickel and the rest of our great staff as we get started in the Coachella Valley."

Laxdal was appointed to lead the Firebirds, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, on July 5. Under Dan Bylsma, Laxdal's predecessor, the team reached the Calder Cup finals in each of its first two seasons.

Prior to his first season behind the bench with the Saskatoon Blades in 2021-22, Sonne was with the WHL's Everett Silvertips as an assistant coach. He also coached the Ducs d'Angers in the Syberglace Ligue Magnus, the top French hockey league. Sonne, a British Columbia native, was also on the staff of Canada's White U17 World Hockey Challenge team, taking home a gold medal in 2024.

"I am beyond grateful for the opportunity, and my wife, daughter, and I are thrilled to be joining the Coachella Valley community," said Sonne. "I intend on working tirelessly towards assisting the rest of the staff, developing future Kraken, and continuing the already winning tradition of the Firebirds franchise."

Sonne's playing experience includes 149 games in the WHL with three franchises, 65 collegiate hockey games representing the University of British Columbia and other stints in the British Columbia Hockey League, USports and the South China Ice Hockey League.