The Winnipeg Jets have announced that head coach Rick Bowness will be taking a leave of absence from the team after his wife, Judy, had a seizure on Sunday evening. This unexpected turn of events means that assistant coach Scott Arniel will step in as the interim coach until Bowness is able to return. The Jets made this announcement in a statement on Monday, also revealing that Judy Bowness remains hospitalized while undergoing further tests.
Rick Bowness, 68, has been in his role as the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets for two seasons now. He was hired in July 2022, replacing then-interim coach Dave Lowry. In his first year with the team, the Jets achieved a commendable record of 46-33-3. However, their journey in the playoffs came to an end when they were defeated by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Golden Knights, in the first round.
This season, the Jets are off to a bit of a rocky start with a 2-3-0 record. With Bowness temporarily stepping away from his coaching duties, it will be interesting to see how the team adjusts and performs under interim coach Scott Arniel. The Jets are scheduled to face the St. Louis Blues next on Tuesday.
Scott Arniel, 61, has a rich hockey background both as a player and a coach. He skated in 730 career NHL games, including over four seasons with the Winnipeg Jets from 1982 to 1986. Arniel then transitioned into the coaching world, briefly holding the position of head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2010 to 2012. Since joining the Jets in 2022, Arniel has been an assistant coach under Bowness. Interestingly, Arniel and Bowness were part of the Winnipeg Jets during the same 1984-85 season, with Bowness serving as an assistant coach at the time.
As the Winnipeg Jets navigate through this challenging period, their thoughts and support go out to Rick Bowness and his wife, Judy, as they face this difficult time. It remains to be seen how long Bowness will be on leave and when he will be able to return to coaching the Jets. In the meantime, the team will rally around interim coach Scott Arniel and work together to continue pursuing their goals for the season.
Leave a Reply