Manitoba's Scott Arniel named AHL Coach of the Year
Published on April 7, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League announced today that Scott Arniel of the Manitoba Moose has been named the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding coach for the 2008-09 season, as voted by coaches and members of the media in each of the league's 29 cities.
Arniel has led the Moose to their second North Division championship in his three seasons as head coach, their record of 49-22-0-6 (104 points) tied for the best mark in the league with three games remaining. Arniel has had to utilize 51 different players in the Manitoba lineup since opening night, second-most of any team in the AHL, including 14 who have also seen action in the National Hockey League in 2008-09. His Moose rank first in the AHL in defense averaging 2.30 goals against per game and are third in penalty killing with an 86.0 percent efficiency.
A 46-year-old native of Kingston, Ont., Arniel has long had ties to Winnipeg, having been drafted by the NHL's Jets in 1981 and playing more than 400 games for the franchise from 1981-86 and 1990-91. Arniel also played for the Moose from 1996-99, including two seasons as team captain, and was Manitoba's assistant coach from 2000-02. Arniel has a career head coaching record of 140-82-15 with the Moose, and his .622 winning percentage ranks second among active AHL head coaches who have worked at least one full season.
The Louis A.R. Pieri Award, which was first presented in 1968, honors the late Mr. Pieri, a long-time contributor to the AHL as the owner and general manager of the Providence Reds and a 2009 inductee into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame. Previous winners of the award include Frank Mathers (1969), Fred Shero (1970), Al MacNeil (1972, '77), John Muckler (1975), Jacques Demers (1983), Larry Pleau (1987), Mike Milbury (1988), John Paddock (1988), Marc Crawford (1993), Barry Trotz (1994), Robbie Ftorek (1995, '96), Peter Laviolette (1999), Claude Julien (2003), Claude Noel (2004), Randy Cunneyworth (2005), Kevin Dineen (2006), Mike Haviland (2007) and Scott Gordon (2008).
Currently in its 73rd season of play, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 85 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 50 million fans have attended AHL games across North America over the past eight years. Sixteen clubs will continue to vie for the league's coveted championship trophy when the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs get underway next week.
American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2009
- Press Conference/Town Hall Meeting taking place at 6:30pm in the lobby of the i wireless Center - Abbotsford Heat
- Wolves to Celebrate Season Fan-ale - Chicago Wolves
- Friday's Home Finale a Battle for Home Ice - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Marlies Hunt Down Moose Over Weekend; Continue Playoff Push - Toronto Marlies
- Down to the Wire - Syracuse Crunch
- B-Sens Join Fundraising Efforts To Assist American Civic Association Victims & Families - Binghamton Senators
- Get $4 Off Friday's Admirals Game with Opening Day Ticket - Milwaukee Admirals
- Florida Panthers Assign Beaverson To Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Hogs Say Thank You With Jersey Giveaway On Friday - Rockford IceHogs
- Playoff Hopes Come to an End for Lowell - Albany Devils
- Crunch Announce Details of Morrisville State College High School Night - Syracuse Crunch
- AHL announces suspension - AHL
- San Jose Sharks Reassign Forwards Jamie McGinn And Brad Staubitz To Worcester - Worcester Sharks
- Phantoms Prepare For Final Regular Season Game At The Spectrum - Adirondack Phantoms
- Wolves to Celebrate Season Fan-ale - Chicago Wolves
- Plante, Duco At TC Hooligans In Webster Tonight For Kids Night - Rochester Americans
- Falcons to donate ping pong table and foosball table to YMCA - Springfield Falcons
- Face Off Against Cancer Raises More Than $28,000 For Charity - Binghamton Senators
- Arniel named AHL's Outstanding Coach - Manitoba Moose
- Manitoba's Scott Arniel named AHL Coach of the Year - AHL
- Officer Anthony DiPonzio to Perform Ceremonial Puck Drop - Rochester Americans
- Beckford-Tseu Reassigned To Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Griffins Announce Scenarios for North Division Semifinals Versus Hamilton - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Hamilton Hosts Manitoba And Travels To Grand Rapids And Toronto This Week - Hamilton Bulldogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
