The Albert Lea Thunder announced Tuesday that assistant coach Chuck Linkenheld will take over as the head coach.

Linkenheld is a long-time coach from Chicago who has coached the Chicago Mission, a Tier-I AAA hockey team, Chicago Young Americans and Team Illinois during his 20-year coaching career.

Linkenheld is a graduate and former captain at Merrimack College, where he played under current Chicago Blackhawks Director of Player Recruitment Ron Anderson and Washington Capitols Assistant Coach Jay Leach.

“Chuck’s relationship in the Midwest Tier-I Elite League and in the east will be an asset to the recruiting and placement of our players,” said Thunder owner Barry Soskin in a press release.

The Thunder (2-9-0) head to Topeka Thursday for a three-game series with the Roadrunners.