The University of Alberta has hired Ian Herbers as the next head coach of its Golden Bears men's hockey team, beating out former Kootenay Ice head coach Kris Knoblauch, who was rumoured to be a candidate.

Herbers, an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, stepped up to lead the club when head coach Kirk Muller was lured to the NHL to take the helm of the Carolina Hurricanes last November.

The Edmonton Journal reported that Knoblauch-a Golden Bears alumni who won a national championship with team in 2000-was a candidate for the job last week.

Kootenay Ice general manager Jeff Chynoweth relieved Knoblauch of his coaching duties and terminated his contract last Friday.

Both Chynoweth and Knoblauch have declined to comment on the situation.

Herbers is a Golden Bears alumni himself playing for the club for four years from 1988 to 1992.