Brian Curran Introduced as Mallards Head Coach
August 3, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Moline, IL-The Quad City Mallards announced today that Brian Curran has been named the sixth head coach in the franchise's history. Curran joins the team with a record of 176-137-28 (.592) in five seasons as a head coach. The 42-year old bench boss has won Coach of the Year Honors in two different leagues (in the Western Professional League (WPHL) in 1999-2000 and in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) in 2002-03.
"Brian brings an intensity level to our organization that we will all be proud of," said Paul O'Dacre, the Mallards President. "In his short time with the franchise, he has already provided great insight into his on-ice attitude and, more importantly, his quality as a person off the ice. He's blended very well with our front office staff, and we look forward to a great year."
Curran is looking forward to bringing the Colonial Cup to the Quad Cities for the fourth time.
"The tradition of the team is one where they've always won," said Curran. "Quite frankly, I want a championship. I have a desire to build a team that will win championships. That's a great challenge, and I look forward to it immensely."
Curran's most recent coaching stop was with the 2003-04 Columbus Cottonmouths (ECHL). Curran inherited a team in Columbus that went 25-39-8 in 2002-03. He engineered a 24-point turnaround that produced Columbus' first plus-.500 season in the ECHL. The Cottonmouths went 37-27-8 in Curran's lone season as head coach.
"The teams that I put together center around several character players," said Curran. "Players that lead on and off the ice. They're good in the community, and teach young players on and off the ice."
"The team itself will be accountable for all actions on the ice. I don't want a hockey team that will be chased out of a building. If that happens, it will be resolved," Curran continued. "I'll build a team that stands together and has a strong work ethic. The team will be taught to play the game the same way I learned. I spent 90% of my time in the penalty box, but my teams aren't like that. However, they are always sure to hold other teams accountable."
Curran began his coaching career with the ECHL's Jacksonville Lizard Kings in 1998-99. Under Curran's guidance, Jacksonville qualified for the playoffs with a record of 35-33-2. Curran moved on to the Monroe Moccasins of the WPHL in 1999. Curran captured WPHL Coach of the Year honors in his first year with the team. In two seasons in Monroe, Curran went 73-52-9 and earned a WPHL playoff appearance following the 1999-2000 season. Curran joined the ACHL's Macon Trax in 2002-03. The Toronto native led the Trax to a 31-25-3 record and earned ACHL Coach of the Year honors.
"It's a tremendously smart hire," said Nashville Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz. "He's developed as a teacher and has had great success at every stop. He's improved every year and his players have improved. He brings an intensity and work ethic that is infectious to the hockey team."
Before beginning his coaching career, Curran played 767 professional games as a defenseman over 15 seasons. For his career, the feared enforcer averaged 4.79 penalty minutes per game. He spent a total of 3,674 minutes (the equivalent of over two and a half days) in the penalty box during his pro career.
He appeared in 381 National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals. At hockey's highest level, Curran earned 1,461 penalty minutes. He played with eight NHL Hall of Fame Players including Cam Neely, Ray Bourque, Bryan Trottier, Pat LaFontaine, Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Borje Salming and Dale Hawerchuk.
Curran's playing career began with the Western Hockey League's Portland WinterHawks in 1980-81. The following season, Curran and his teammates captured the Memorial Cup as the amateur champions of the Canadian Hockey League. In 1982-83, the Hawks returned to the Memorial Cup tournament during Curran's last season of junior hockey.
The 6-foot-5 defenseman began his pro career by splitting the 1983-84 season between the American League's (AHL) Hershey Bears and the NHL's Boston Bruins. After spending parts of three seasons in Boston, Curran was dealt to the New York Islanders before the 1986-87 season.
In 1986-87, Curran recorded 356 penalty minutes-just five PIMs short of league leader Tim Hunter. It also marked the first of five times in his pro career that Curran led his team in penalty minutes.
The following season, he was sent to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. The physical rearguard played 130 games in Toronto over four seasons. He led the 1989-1990 Leafs in penalty minutes with 301. In 1990-91, Curran began his stint in Buffalo.
He played the majority of his final six seasons in the American League where he captured two Calder Cups as league playoff champions. In 1992-93, Curran led the Cape Breton Oilers in penalty minutes as the team won the Calder Cup. The following year, he was part of a Calder Cup winning Portland team that featured future NHL stars Olaf Kolzig and Byron Dafoe.
Curran spent parts of three seasons in Portland. He led the team in penalty minutes with 328 PIMs in just 59 games during the 1994-95 season. Other players that teamed with Curran in Portland include NHL stars Andrew Brunette and Jason Allison and current UHL coaches Kevin Kaminski (Missouri) and Todd Nelson (Muskegon).
Curran led the WPHL's Monroe Moccasins in penalty minutes (239) during his final season (1997-98). He finished his pro career with the International League's Las Vegas Thunder.
Mallards season tickets are on sale now. Call the Mallards ticket office at (309) 764-7825 to reserve your seat for 2005-06.
The Mallards open the 2005-06 season on October 21st in Flint vs. the Generals. The 11th home opener in franchise history is slated for October 22nd vs. the Motor City Mechanics. Keep checking qcmallards.com for updated news on all team events.
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