Post by Scranton Thunderbolts on Nov 20, 2013 17:06:21 GMT -6
After today's firings, let's meet the new coaches.
Head Coach - Olegs Znaroks
All Znaroks has done in the KHL so far is win. With the exception of a mediocre 2008-09 season, Znaroks has led his teams to glory. In 2010, HC MVD - who merged that offseason with HC Dynamo Moscow to create a new HC Dynamo Moscow - came agonizingly close to a championship, losing Game 7 on home ice against Ak Bars Kazan. He was named head coach of the new Dynamo Moscow that summer. After being upset by Dinamo Riga in 2011 in the first round, Znaroks would be able to do what he didn't with MVD, winning the Gagarin Cup against Avangard Omsk, including a Game 7 shutout win in Omsk. He would do it all again a year later, this time defeating Traktor Chelyabinsk in 6 games, again clinching on the road with a thrilling OT win in Chelyabinsk. In both Cup runs, he was named coach of the year. Everyone contributes in Moscow and what he does with the whole "team" dynamic is what got him the job with Scranton. (Of course, he also had his goalie win playoff MVP twice in a row, but still...)
Assistant Coach - Ari-Pekka Selin
Selin has taken Barys to unprecedented levels this season. A longtime coach in Finland who recently guided HPK to its highest point percentage in 6 years, Barys, who had lost a seven-game heartbreaker to Traktor in the 2013 playoffs, gave Selin the reigns. And man, did they get results. Barys is currently second in the KHL's East, two points behind Ak Bars Kazan but with a game in hand, and has scored more goals than any other team with 102 goals in 27 games. They also get contribution from everyone, with ten players in double digit points, led by Talgat Zhailauov with 24. He will run the power play and work with forwards.
Assistant Coach - Don Lucia
The longtime Minnesota Golden Gopher head coach comes in with a big-time winning record (see a pattern?) under his belt, as well as a Coach of the Year award in 2006. In 26 years coaching college hockey, he's gone 623-337-88, and has churned out many solid WHL players including T-Bolts winger Phil Kessel. He's one of only four coaches to have won back to back NCAA titles. Lucia, whose Gophers are currently #1 in the nation, will work with defensemen. Great pick too as Minnesota is 5th in the nation in team defense.
Head Coach - Olegs Znaroks
All Znaroks has done in the KHL so far is win. With the exception of a mediocre 2008-09 season, Znaroks has led his teams to glory. In 2010, HC MVD - who merged that offseason with HC Dynamo Moscow to create a new HC Dynamo Moscow - came agonizingly close to a championship, losing Game 7 on home ice against Ak Bars Kazan. He was named head coach of the new Dynamo Moscow that summer. After being upset by Dinamo Riga in 2011 in the first round, Znaroks would be able to do what he didn't with MVD, winning the Gagarin Cup against Avangard Omsk, including a Game 7 shutout win in Omsk. He would do it all again a year later, this time defeating Traktor Chelyabinsk in 6 games, again clinching on the road with a thrilling OT win in Chelyabinsk. In both Cup runs, he was named coach of the year. Everyone contributes in Moscow and what he does with the whole "team" dynamic is what got him the job with Scranton. (Of course, he also had his goalie win playoff MVP twice in a row, but still...)
Assistant Coach - Ari-Pekka Selin
Selin has taken Barys to unprecedented levels this season. A longtime coach in Finland who recently guided HPK to its highest point percentage in 6 years, Barys, who had lost a seven-game heartbreaker to Traktor in the 2013 playoffs, gave Selin the reigns. And man, did they get results. Barys is currently second in the KHL's East, two points behind Ak Bars Kazan but with a game in hand, and has scored more goals than any other team with 102 goals in 27 games. They also get contribution from everyone, with ten players in double digit points, led by Talgat Zhailauov with 24. He will run the power play and work with forwards.
Assistant Coach - Don Lucia
The longtime Minnesota Golden Gopher head coach comes in with a big-time winning record (see a pattern?) under his belt, as well as a Coach of the Year award in 2006. In 26 years coaching college hockey, he's gone 623-337-88, and has churned out many solid WHL players including T-Bolts winger Phil Kessel. He's one of only four coaches to have won back to back NCAA titles. Lucia, whose Gophers are currently #1 in the nation, will work with defensemen. Great pick too as Minnesota is 5th in the nation in team defense.