This season will mark a reunion for two local chums behind the Tri-City Americans’ bench.

The WHL club announced yesterday that they had hired Scott Beattie to take over their vacant associate coach position.

That puts him with Jim Hiller more than two decades after they first skated together on the Cranbrook Colts.

Beattie said he watched the Americans’ run to the WHL finals last year with great interest.

“They have a great returning team as well, but obviously the biggest thing is I get a chance to go coach with the guy who was best man at my wedding,” said Beattie. “I believe he’s an outstanding coach and it’s going to be great to work with him.”

The Kootenay Ice had offered Beattie the chance to stay on as full-time assistant, a promotion from the part-time position he’d filled with the club for the last two seasons.

Beattie said it was very tough to decide against staying where he’s comfortable.

“I obviously really enjoyed working with Mark (Holick) and Kris (Knoblauch, who was promoted to head coach last week). I was Kris’s roommate for the last two years on the road. He’s an outstanding guy — an outstanding guy,” said Beattie. “He’s going to be a great coach. I would have loved to have stayed to work with him and stay here in town where I’m comfortable but I just felt this might be a little closer to what I want to experience.”

Now certain he wants to pursue a career in coaching, Beattie will take the next step alongside an old friend in Hiller.

“We’ve been talking about coaching together since we played junior together in 1987 in Melville, Sask.,” said Beattie, who played three seasons with Hiller on the junior A Millionaires.

They made the shift to collegiate hockey together, playing another three years with the Northern Michigan University Wildcats.

In the mid-to-late 90s, they joined forces for a season each with Italy’s Milan Saima SG, and the Rosenheim Starbulls in Germany.

“We played well together in junior,” said Beattie. “We’ve had success as players. We’ve won championships together as players and hopefully we can continue that success coaching together.”

Beattie is confident that on-ice chemistry will extend to the bench, and is looking forward to learning from his friend.

“We’ve had very candid discussions about coaching and about hockey,” he said. “We’ve both been students of the sport for a very long time. We didn’t just sit on the bench while we weren’t playing; we watched the other guys play. We actually watched the game, we talked a lot about it. I’m very, very pleased to go with him. Obviously it was a huge factor.”

Hiller thinks he can learn from Beattie as well.

“I’ve known Scott for a long time…he will be a great fit for our team,” Hiller said, in a press release. “His understanding of the game will not only benefit our players, but me as well.”

Hiller’s won’t be the only familiar face down in Kennewick.

“I’ve known Scott for many years now, dating back to my days with the Kootenay Ice, and I’m excited that he will be joining our staff,” said Tri-City GM Bob Tory. “Not only is he extremely qualified for this position but he brings a passion and enthusiasm for the game that is unparalleled.”

Beattie and his wife Christine haven’t made any decisions yet on whether they’ll move to the Tri-City area with their children Hope and Noa.

In the meantime, Beattie has Sept. 16 circled on his calendar: the Americans will be in Cranbrook for an exhibition game.

He said his time behind the Ice bench was outstanding.

“I appreciate the Chynoweth family and Jeff letting me hang around his team for the last two years and learn some stuff. It definitely helped me out,” he said.

“I wish them all the best.”

NOTE — Former Kootenay Ice trainer Darcy Ewanchuk was hired by the Americans last week.