The Brandon Wheat Kings have announced that David Anning will take over as Head Coach for the 2016-17 season.

The 30 year old Winnipeg native, joined the Wheat Kings organization back in 2012 after coaching for six seasons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

"I'm very excited this is a tremendous opportunity," shared Anning.  "It's something I've been looking forward to at some point, obviously we have had a lot happen here in the last little while.  This is a franchise I am very proud to be associated with and it's something I am really looking forward to."

The move comes after team Owner and former Head Coach, Kelly McCrimmon accepted the Assistant General Manager position with the new National Hockey League franchise in Las Vegas.

McCrimmon stated that Anning was prepared to take on the new role.

"I think he has a lot of really good experience. He has been a Head Coach, he has been an Assistant Coach.  I think the four years he has had in our organization have been extremely valuable.  It's given me an opportunity to watch him work, watch him develop.  I think this year was a great opportunity, while I was away at Christmas time for him to run the team.  Not only missing myself as the Head Coach but Ivan Provorov, John Quenneville, Jayce Hawryluk was at our camp but was suspended so that was a good test for him."

Joining Anning on the bench this season will be former Winnipeg Blues coach Don MacGillivray and former WHL All Star defenceman and NHLer Aaron Rome.

Anning noted, even with all the changes, expectations are going to continue to be high for the reigning Western Hockey League champions.

"We are moving into a season where we are the defending champions and obviously without Kelly at the helm it is going to be different.  There is always expectations for us we are in the business of winning, it's important.  We completely understand that, we are competitive and our staff is competitive and we want to be successful.  There is also the development side.  We are a program that has always sent them on to the next level.  I think we have done a good job developing our players, improving them on and off the ice as people well and that is an area of emphasis that is going to continue."

Former Assistant Coach Darren Ritchie meanwhile becomes the Wheat Kings’ new Director of Scouting and Tyler Plante rejoins the organization as the club’s Goaltending Coach.