A third-generation hockey coach is stepping into the professional ranks, mirroring his father’s early career path nearly three decades ago. The younger Laviolette is set to begin his coaching journey in the ECHL, the same minor-league circuit where his father, Peter Laviolette, launched his own head coaching career with the Wheeling Nailers. The move marks a rare instance of a son directly inheriting his father’s coaching legacy in professional hockey. Fans and analysts will be watching to see how the younger Laviolette’s experience and lineage shape his approach to the role.

Nearly 30 years after Los Angeles Kings coach Peter Laviolette got his start as a head coach in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers, his son, Peter Laviolette III, is following in his footsteps.