The 2011-12 WHL season is one of change for both the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silivertips as both teams hired new head coaches.

The T-birds are led by former NHL winger Steve Konowalchuk and the Silvertips are guided by Mark Ferner, who was an NHL defenseman and junior hockey coach.

Konowalchuk played 14 seasons with the Washington Capitols and Colorado Avalanche and most recently was an assistant coach with Colorado. Ferner played for Buffalo, Washington, Anaheim and Detroit over six seasons and won two Canadian national Junior A championships as coach of BC's Vernon Vipers.

Both coaches talked about their teams, the season ahead and much more in a live chat Sept. 28 on seattletimes.com.