Swift Current's Marc Habscheid has resigned as head coach of the Prince Albert Raiders, effective immediately, to take a coaching job for a pro hockey team in Europe.

Habscheid has coached over 1100 games in the WHL for five different teams. He joined the Raiders in 2014, leading them to an Ed Chynoweth Cup championship in 2019 and was named the league's Coach of the Year that season. He also won a league championship and a Memorial Cup with the Kelowna Rockets and became the eighth coach in WHL history to win over 500 games.

“For the past seven and a half seasons, it has been an honour to be the Head Coach of the Prince Albert Raiders," Habscheid said in a statement released by the team. "When I arrived in this city during the 2014-15 season, I thought I had an idea of what it would be like. Today I can say, my anticipation was blown away. As a member of this coaching staff, we watched kids grow into young men both on and off the ice, which culminated in celebrating a WHL Championship here inside the Art Hauser Centre. To every player who wore a Raider jersey, to every staff member who gave their time to our team, and most importantly to the great fans of Prince Albert, thank you."

Habscheid ends his WHL coaching career with 592 wins, fifth all time.

“It’s certainly hard to lose a quality coach like Marc with his experience,” Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt said in a statement. “We appreciate the time he has given us and the culture that he has helped to build and maintain in his time here. We wish him nothing but the best of luck as he heads off for another challenge.”

The Raiders have announced that the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.