Moncton, NB ----- John Torchetti's rein as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Moncton Wildcats is over. Torchetti is leaving the Quebec Major Junior League team to return to the NHL as an assistant coach with the Chicago Black Hawks."This is a great opportunity for me to join Denis Savard and the coaching staff in Chicago, but it was a difficult decision because I absolutely loved my year here in Moncton," Torchetti said. "Everything about this organization is first class and to have the opportunity to work with a group of young men like I had the pleasure of working with this year has been a privilege," he said. "I can't say enough about the professional approach of the other coaches, the scouts and the front office staff - they all made my life easy so I could concentrate on working with our players."
Torchetti replaced Ted Nolan, who moved on to coach the New York Islanders to a playoff birth this past season. "If this wasn't such a great opportunity I would have been happy to stay in Moncton and continue to work with Mr. Irving to bring another championship to this great community," he said. "Chicago recently signed Jonathan Toews, who at only 19, had an unbelievable tournament at the World Championships, and they have first pick in the upcoming draft, so it is similar to the rebuilding that I was part of in Tampa a few years ago."
And while he is leaving Torchetti says he will continue working the phones for the Wildcats. "We are in great shape in our draft preparation and the free agents we have approached. In addition we have been working very hard on identifying the Europeans who we want as part of this team next season, and I will certainly continue to be active over the next few weeks in ensuring that the Wildcats get players who can jump in and help the team next season."
For his part Wildcats President Robert Irving says the team wishes Torchetti nothing but the best. "John Torchetti came to Moncton and took a team that most experts felt was going to be in the middle of the league and led us to a solid fourth place finish," Mr. Irving said. "His work ethic and his ability to relate to our young players are qualities that make it easy to understand why Chicago is so anxious to have him go back to the NHL."
As for the future, Mr. Irving says that today is a day to say thank you to John Torchetti for his great work in guiding the team last season, but the news on a replacement may not be that far off. "We are already at work looking for the right person to guide this organization," Mr. Irving said. "We have been very fortunate to have head coaches like Ted Nolan and John Torchetti and certainly the next coach of the Moncton Wildcats will bring the same level of professionalism."
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