Gems Introduce New Head Coach/GM

Published on July 7, 2010 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Dayton Gems News Release


Dayton, OH- The Dayton Gems Ownership Group announced today that the Gems have hired Brian Gratz as their new Head Coach and General Manager for the 2010-12 seasons. Terms of the deal were not disclosed due to league and team mandates.

"An extensive thought process went through our selection. We are very serious about stabilizing Professional Hockey here in Dayton," said Gems President Rob Garfield. "Our Head Coach selection will prove to be a substantial building block in reaching our goals in the community and putting a solid and entertaining product on the ice."

After completing his collegiate career by winning four American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) National Championships as a goaltender for the Penn State Ice Lions, Gratz spent the next five seasons of his hockey career as a reliable back-up goaltender in Minor League hockey. Some of his stops included the Huntsville havoc of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), the Fort Wayne Komets of the then United Hockey League (UHL) and the Reading Royals, Johnstown Chiefs, Wheeling Nailers, Dayton Bombers and Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.

Following the completion of his playing career, Gratz spent one season as the Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Reading Royals. The next season (2007-08) he became the Head Coach of the Indiana Ice Miners of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (MAHL). During his time with the Ice Miners, Gratz set a professional hockey record with a 26-game winning streak as part of an overall record of 31-1-0, which also resulted in a league Championship. In the 2008-09 season, Gratz left the Ice Miners to become the new Head Coach and General Manager of the Jersey Rockhoppers of the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL). While in Jersey, he finished with an impressive record of 32-16-2 which would produce another Championship. Gratz spent the 2009-10 season as the Head Goaltending Coach at Penn State.

"Obviously the Central Hockey League is a great opportunity and Dayton is a great hockey market," said new Head Coach and General Manager Brian Gratz. "The owners and I are committed to fielding a successful team. Dayton deserves an exciting and winning product and that is what they are going to get. Making the Dayton Gems infuse with the Dayton community is going to be just as important as what we are going to do on the ice."

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from July 7, 2010


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