The Drayton Valley Thunder are very pleased to announce that General Manager and head coach Fran Gow has re-signed a three-year contract to remain at the helm of the Thunder organization.
Gow's 19-year tenure in the Alberta Junior Hockey League has seen a very successful stop in Fort McMurray where he led the Oil Barons to four league finals, two league titles and National Championship in 2000.
From 2000 to 2007, Gow took over the reigns of the Grand Prairie Storm. Under his tenure, the Storm reached the AJHL final on two occasions winning the title in 2004.
Since joining the Thunder in 2007, Gow was key in implementing a long-term blueprint for success. With an eye on the future, Gow developed, traded, recruited and drafted core players. And this past season, Gow's Thunder found post season success as well by sweeping the Lloydminster Bobcats in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out to Spruce Grove.
Gow, who holds a formidable 569-385-80 record within the AJHL ranks, had been pursued by other organizations over the Spring but opted to remain in Drayton Valley and continue the Thunder's rebuilding process which he began three years ago.
Gow wasted little time in announcing that Associate Coach Mike Mueller would also return to help guide the Thunder.
The Drayton Valley Thunder would like to thank Fran Gow and his family for remaining within their fold for years to come.
