Derek Laxdal is the Head Coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, appointed in July 2024 after Dan Bylsma’s promotion to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. Born in Stonewall, Manitoba, Laxdal played 67 NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders before a successful career in Europe. Laxdal began coaching in 2000 and won a Kelly Cup with the Idaho Steelheads and a Memorial Cup with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He later led the AHL’s Texas Stars to the 2018 Calder Cup Final and served as an Assistant Coach with the Dallas Stars. Most recently, he was named OHL Coach of the Year after leading the Oshawa Generals to the league final.