Denny Lambert's new coaching gig (updated)

Denny Lambert is back behind the bench.

Lambert has been named the head coach of the Canadian International Hockey League’s Batchewana Attack.

The team made the announcement on Wednesday that the former NHL player would take the position.

“It’s an exciting move for myself and my family,” Lambert said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been involved at a high level of hockey so it’s exciting to get back to it. I’m at home so it doesn’t affect my family living and this is something I can work on around my work schedule.”

Lambert is currently working at Essar Steel Algoma as an emergency response officer but said the team is willing to work with him on days where his work schedule conflicts with practices or team related events.

The timing of the coaching opportunity was good for Lambert as well.

“Things started out when I wanted to be involved in Sault Major with a bantam double-A team and they called me back and said they weren’t interested in my services,” Lambert said. “Then to get a call for this three or four days later, it’s exciting.”

The opportunity keeps Lambert in an area he is extremely familiar with as well.

Lambert spent three seasons with the Soo Greyhounds beginning in 1988. His OHL career saw him score 65 goals and 148 points in 181 career games.

Lambert spent three seasons as the Greyhounds head coach from 2008 to 2011. That came after five seasons as an assistant coach with the team, beginning in 2003 following his retirement from a 12-year professional hockey career in which he played 487 career games with four NHL teams.

Lambert joins a coaching staff that already includes another former NHL’er in Sault native Rico Fata. Fata was brought on in late-June to become the team’s skills and skating coach.