The High River Flyers, who've struggled most of the season, have decided to part ways with Head Coach Bruce Cowie and Assistant Coach Rod Smith.

Taking over the team is fellow Assistant Coach Tyson Avery.

Flyers Vice President Mike Bliss says Avery will get the final five games of the regular season and any playoff games to prove himself.

"We're going to re-evaluate at the end of the season and see how Tyson does and then go from there. He knows the players, he's got the respect of the players and I think that's probably the most important thing."

The Flyers beat the Wheatland Kings 6-4 Sunday night in Strathmore with Avery behind the bench after Cowie and Smith were let go earlier in the day.

Bliss says the reason for the dismissal was Cowie and Smith may have "lost the room" to an extent and management just wasn't seeing enough progress from the team.

The Flyers are 10-21-and-3 on the season and tied for fifth spot in the Heritage Junior "B" Hockey League's South Division with Banff at 23 points each.

They host the Bears Friday in the Eli Gosselin Memorial Game.