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 Syracuse Crunch

Head Coach Gary Agnew Signs Extension

May 25, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Syracuse, NY (May 25, 2004) – The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have extended the contract of Head Coach Gary Agnew through the 2004-05 season. The Crunch also announced that Assistant Coach Ross Yates signed a new contract for the 2004-05.

Agnew, 44, returns for his fifth season behind the Syracuse Crunch bench. Last season Agnew led the Crunch to a second place finish in the North Division with 93 points, the second most points in team history. He guided the Crunch to their first-ever division and regular season conference championships in the 2001-02, setting franchise marks in wins (39) and points (96). Agnew has posted a 137-119-43-21 (.563 winning percentage) in 300 career regular season games with the Crunch and an 11-11 mark in the post season.

“We continue to be very pleased with the job Gary and Ross have done on the ice and in the area of player development,” said Jim Clark, Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager. “We are pleased to have them lead the Crunch in 2004-05.”

Prior to joining the Crunch, Agnew spent 10 seasons as a head coach in the Ontario Hockey League, the last three with the London Knights. Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Agnew began his coaching career with the London Knights in 1990-91 before moving to the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) in 1994-95. Agnew returned to the Knights for the 1997-98 season and coached them to a Western Division Title.

In 664 OHL games, Agnew posted a 329-282-53 record. Agnew was named OHL Coach of the Year and First Team All-Star Coach in both the 1992-93 and 1997-98 seasons. Before coaching, Agnew played for the University of New Brunswick (CIAU), Fredericton Express (AHL) and Milwaukee Admirals (IHL). He has a MastersÂ’ Degree in Coaching from the University of Western Ontario.

Agnew is the third head coach in Crunch history (Stan Smyl, 1999-00 and Jack McIlhargey 1994-95 – 1998-99).

Yates returns to the Crunch for his fifth season as assistant coach. The former AHL All-Star came to the Crunch after spending a decade as a player and coach in Europe. Yates was head coach of Hamburg in the German Bundesliga League in 1999-2000. He held four other head coaching positions in Europe in the 1990Â’s, including stints in the German, Italian and Swiss Elite Leagues.


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