The Adelaide Adrenaline are turning back the clock and becoming the Adelaide Avalanche this weekend as part of 'Heritage Round' on August 5. (Learn more here)

Who better to coach the team than the only man who has EVER been the head coach of the Avalanche?

That's right! John Botterill, or 'Botts', has agreed to join Sami Mantere as coach of the team on August 5 during 'Avalanche Heritage Round' presented by Mortgage Choice Malvern and Camp Quality. Get your tickets before they sell out at www.trybooking.com/pftr 

"John Botterill is the only person who has ever head coached the Avalanche. That can't change when we 'become' the Avalanche again on Saturday," said club President Eric Balnar. 

Botts was the head coach of the Avalanche from their first exhibition game in 1997 right until the Avalanche namesake ended in 2007. He remained coach of the Adrenaline for the following two seasons.

He coached the club two all three of their Goodall Cups - two as the Avalanche in 2000 / 2001 and one as the Adrenaline in 2009.

He was also the coach of the women's program between 2008 and 2012-13 and won three national championships. 

He was the coach of the Australian Junior team as well.

"Simply put: he is the stuff of legends," says Adrenaline head coach Sami Mantere. "I can't wait to have him in the room with us on the weekend. Hopefully we can play like those early days Avalanche."

Botterill has been a key figure in developing Ice Hockey in South Australia. He has won championships as both a player and a coach. 

Avalanche founders Steve Oddy and James Thilthorpe appointed Botterill as the first coach of the Avalanche in 1997 for an exhibition game and he was the coach when the club entered the national competition.

"Those were exciting times," says Botterill. "All of a sudden there was a lot of energy in Ice Hockey because we got to go on a plane and play hockey interstate."

"The amount of work that people put into the club is unbelievable. It is such an honour to be a part of," he said in an interview on Facebook last week.

The Adrenaline will wear custom made Avalanche jerseys on Saturday. They are donated by Mortgage Choice Malvern and will be auctioned off after the game with all proceeds going to Camp Quality. 

Former Avs players will be in attendance and honoured in the first intermission. We will also have a history display present at the game.

As part of the fundraising efforts, fans are asked to pledge a desired dollar amount for every Mortgage Choice Malvern GOAL we score on the weekend. You can learn more and pledge here.