AHL San Jose Barracuda

Barracuda Head Coach and Oakland Native Roy Sommer Earns 750th AHL Win

Published on February 1, 2019 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Jose Barracuda News Release


Stockton, Calif. - San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda.com) Head Coach and Bay Area native Roy Sommer collected his 750th American Hockey League (@TheAHL) win of his career on Friday in Stockton, 6-4. Sommer is the first coach in the 83-year history of the AHL to reach 750 wins.

In addition, amongst coaches that have spent time in the three active highest levels of professional hockey (NHL/AHL/ECHL), Sommer's coaching longevity compares to some of the most successful hockey coaches in the sport's history. His combined 1,921 professional games coached (ECHL/AHL) places him only behind Scotty Bowman (2,141), and Barry Trotz (1,973) all-time. Bowman coached for an NHL record 30 season and stands atop the NHL in games coached. Trotz, the current head coach of the NHL's New York Islanders, is in his 25th year as a head coach in the professional hockey, spending 20 seasons in the NHL and five in the AHL.

In professional hockey, Sommer's combined 926 victories between the ECHL and AHL place hime only behind Bowman (1,244), Trotz (977), Ken Hitchcock (947), and Mike Keenan (876). Sommer is one of only seven coaches in professional hockey to reach 700 coaching wins between the NHL, AHL and ECHL.

On March 26, 2014, Sommer set the record for the most games coached in the AHL by surpassing Frank Mathers' mark of 1,256, and on Feb. 10, 2016, Sommer surpassed Fred "Bun" Cook (636 wins) to become the all-time leader in AHL wins. Sommer is 700-613-48-72-66 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL) all-time during his AHL record 20-year career.

In 2016-17, Sommer was awarded his first A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as AHL Coach of the Year after leading the Barracuda to a 43-16-4-5 (.699) record and the franchise's first Western Conference Final appearance.

Sommer's coaching career in the American Hockey League has included stints in Kentucky (1998-01), Cleveland (2001-06), Worcester (2006-15), and San Jose (2015-present).

Prior to joining the Sharks organization as an assistant coach under Head Coach Darryl Sutter from 1996-1998, Sommer spent five seasons and 334 games as a head coach in the ECHL with Roanoke and Richmond, including winning an ECHL Championship in 1995 with Richmond.

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