Amerks' Coach Randy Cunneyworth Earns Promotion to the NHL
Published on July 25, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release
(Rochester, NY)... After eight seasons behind the Rochester Americans' bench, Randy Cunneyworth was awarded a coaching position with the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League. The longest-tenured coach in Amerks' history moves on to work as an assistant coach for Thrashers' Head Coach John Anderson.
"I am happy for Randy and congratulate him for his promotion to the NHL. He has given so much to the Amerks and the Rochester community as both a player and a coach," said Amerks Owner Steve Donner. "He has a proven track record of working well with young players and will do a great job for Atlanta. I thank him for everything he has done for the Rochester Americans."
In eight seasons, he registered a 306-273-61 record and a .478 winning percentage. His 640 games place him second to only John Van Boxmeer and his 306 wins are also second on the Amerks' all-time list. Cunneyworth also took the Amerks to the playoffs six times and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2004.
"I am excited for Randy. He has been here for eight years and has more than paid his dues," said Amerks General Manager Jody Gage. "Any time you work at this level the ultimate goal is to get to the NHL. We thank him for his years of service and his success on and off the ice. I wish him and his family the best of luck."
In 2004-05, he had a banner season, leading the Amerks to a league-high 112 points (51-19-4-6) and the first Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the league's point champion. The point total also broke the team's single-season record of 111 points set by the 1998-99 Amerks. He was rewarded with the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding coach. He became only the third Rochester coach to win the Pieri Award, joining Don Cherry (1974) and Don Lever (1991).
Cunneyworth was the 26th head coach in the history of the hockey franchise, joining the coaching ranks on September 8, 2000. Prior to his coaching career, he played 20 seasons of professional hockey and spent his last two years with the Amerks as a left winger/assistant coach. During that stint with Rochester (1998-99 to 1999-00), the Amerks were the Empire Division and Western Conference regular season and playoff champions. The Amerks reached the Calder Cup Finals both seasons.
He started his professional playing career in Rochester in 1980-81. Cunneyworth played parts of seven seasons with the Amerks, earning 239 points (101+138). He currently ranks 20th on the franchise's all-time point list, 13th in games played (366) and 19th in goals (101). The native of Etobicoke, Ontario, was a member of the Amerks' 1982-83 Calder Cup winning team, before moving to the National Hockey League in 1985-86.
Cunneyworth played 16 seasons in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Winnipeg Jets, Hartford Whalers, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators. In 866 NHL games, he collected 189 goals and 225 assists for 414 points. In 20 years of pro hockey, he played in 1,234 games and registered 290 goals, 363 assists and 1,851 penalty minutes
The Amerks will open their 53rd AHL season on Friday, October 10th at 7:35 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial. The opponent will be announced at a later date. Rochester enters the season as the sole affiliate of the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers. The Amerks announced a three-year deal with the Panthers on June 19, 2008.
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- Amerks' Coach Randy Cunneyworth Earns Promotion to the NHL - Rochester Americans
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