The Edmonton Rush will name Paul Day as its first general manager and head coach, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.

Day was supposed to be introduced today, according to a report in the Edmonton Sun; it's not clear why that didn't happen.

Day was the Rochester Knighthawks' head coach from 1998 until last month, when he quit in order to a find a job where he could be both coach and general manager.

That wasn't going to happen in Rochester, with Jody Gage firmly entrenched as general manager of the Knighthawks and their corporate cousin, the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.

Day won the job in Edmonton over finalists Jamie Batley and Walt Christianson, who each spent the 2005 season with the Colorado Mammoth, and reportedly about 30 other serious applicants.

"He knows the league so well and his experience in it is one of his strong points that we wanted in our system."

Day coached with the Knighthawks since the team's inception in 1995, serving as an assistant under Barry Powless for three seasons, until getting the head job himself.

Day has the second-most wins in league history, compiling a 75-39 regular-season record and three championship game appearances. The Knighthawks never won a title for him, though, losing the Champion's Cup to Toronto in all three trips to the title game.

Under Day, the Knighthawks never posted a losing record under Day and never missed the playoffs. Four times, he guided the team to ten or more wins, including a 13-3 record in 2002 and a 10-6 mark this past season.

Day won the Les Bartley Award in 2004 by leading the Knighthawks to an 8-8 finish and a playoff berth despite season-ending injuries to several players.

Day also coached in the All Star Game three times, twice as head coach. His team won both games, each in overtime -- Canada 25-24 over the United States in 1999 (at Rochester) and East 11-10 over the West this season (at Calgary).