Former Surrey Eagles head coach and general manager David Rutherford has parted ways with the British Columbia Hockey League team, along with associate general manager Geoff Moffat.

The South Surrey-based junior hockey team, which has had a slow start to the regular season, is currently in fifth and last place in the BCHL’s Coastal East conference standings, with a 17-4-13 games played, wins, losses record, and only eight points total — the lowest points total in the league so far.

On Facebook, Surrey Eagles posted about Rutherford’s and Moffat’s departure Monday (Nov. 2).

“The Surrey Eagles would like to thank Head Coach and GM David Rutherford and Associate GM Geoff Moffat for their time and contributions to the organization. We wish David and Geoff all the best in their future endeavours,” the post said.

Rutherford, a former pro hockey player himself who joined the squad for the 2026-2027 season, said the reason is simple: family.

“I have a two-and-four-months-old, and a nine-month-old with my wife, so we’re in the thick of it,” Rutherford said Tuesday (Nov. 3). “I’ve really tried to prioritize being a dad … I was really struggling trying to be a general manager and a head coach with the family, and I brought it to (Eagles co-owner TJ Brar), and he wanted me to do both — which is in all fairness, is what he hired me to do — I just never anticipated (the hours). It was 18-hour days … I was never seeing my kids. There’s really nothing other to it than I made a decision to be around my kids more.”

Although the team’s results haven’t been the best so far this season, Rutherford noted the team has always been focused on being a more process-oriented team, and believing in that process.

“The results weren’t there, but there’s quite a few games, if you look through analytics … where we could have had totally different results,” Rutherford said. ‘It’s never easy losing, but honestly, I was really struggling because it was affecting my family.”

When his daughter fell down the stairs when he was supposed to be paying attention to her was a key moment in his decision-making process, Rutherford shared, noting his daughter is OK, but it was a telling moment for him.

Rutherford was grateful for his time with the Surrey Eagles and for the chance to be a BCHL general manager and head coach.

“I appreciate the opportunity. I know now, at this present time, I can’t do both and that’s what they hired me for … I’m really grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “It’s a great place to come and coach hockey and be around hockey, but at the end of the day, my kids are only this small for so (long) … it’s disappointing, but I also don’t think when I look down (at my children) that I’m going to regret spending these years with my kids.”

Peace Arch News has reached out to Eagles co-owner Ron Brar.

On Tuesday (Nov. 3), Surrey Eagles posted the team is “proud to welcome” Gaelan Patterson as the team’s new head coach and general manager.

“Patterson joins the Eagles from the Nanaimo Clippers, where he served as Associate Head Coach. His coaching resume also includes a season as an assistant with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, two years as GM and Head Coach of the VIJHL’s Port Alberni Bombers, BCHL experience with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, and three seasons with the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves,” the Twitter post shared.

“As a player, Patterson spent four seasons with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, including back-to-back campaigns of 57 and 59 points. He went on to a 12-year pro career that took him from the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat to the ECHL with Utah and Idaho, then overseas to Norway, France, and the UK.”