Bruce Cassidy Named AHL's Outstanding Coach
April 11, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA . . . The American Hockey League announced today that Bruce Cassidy of the Grand Rapids Griffins has been named the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding coach for the 2001-02 season, as voted by members of the media in each of the league's 27 cities.
Cassidy guided the Griffins to a record of 42-27-11-0 (95 points) in their first season in the American Hockey League, despite losing to injury and/or recall several key players, including Kip Miller, Petr Schastlivy and Martin Prusek. Grand Rapids finished with second-best defensive record in AHL history, and claimed the AHL's West Division championship.
Cassidy, 36, served as head coach of the PlanetUSA AHL All-Stars at the 2002 AHL All-Star Classic in St. John's, Nfld. A former AHL defenseman and veteran of 36 NHL games, Cassidy was runner-up for the IHL's Coach of the Year award last season, and has compiled a mark of 95-49-18 (.642) in two seasons behind the Griffins' bench.
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 of the Providence Reds. Pieri served as the general manager of three Calder Cup champions in Providence (1938, 1940, 1949).
Previous winners of the Pieri Award include Frank Mathers (1969), Fred Shero (1970), Don Cherry (1974), John Muckler (1975), Jacques Demers (1983), Larry Pleau (1987), Marc Crawford (1993), Barry Trotz (1994), Robbie Ftorek (1995, '96), Greg Gilbert (1997) and Peter Laviolette (1999).
Now in its 66th season, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 75 percent of all players to compete in the NHL this season have been AHL graduates, and over 300 players have taken the ice in both leagues in 2001-02. The Calder Cup 2002 Playoffs are now underway, with 20 teams vying for the honor of claiming the league's coveted championship trophy.
American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2002
- Griffins Begin Calder Cup Playoff Chase Against Wolves on Saturday - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Duck Season Over - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Crunch Announce First Round Playoff Dates - Syracuse Crunch
- Moose advance to Conference QF- Playoffs Tickets On Sale - Manitoba Moose
- Phantoms sweep Rochester with 3-2 win - Adirondack Phantoms
- Krestanovich assigned to Bears - Hershey Bears
- Cloutier Assigned by Minnesota - Houston Aeros
- Aeros Weekly - Houston Aeros
- Red Wings Send Goalie Elliott Back to Cincinnati - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Gernander to Throw out First Pitch at Rock Cats Game - Connecticut Whale
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- DuPont's Martin's Fundraising Programs Raise Over $18,000 for Charities - Saint John Flames
- Crunch Sign Defenseman Alex Johnstone - Syracuse Crunch
- Crunch Challenge CNY Residents To Grow Playoff Beards - Syracuse Crunch
- Bruce Cassidy Named AHL's Outstanding Coach - AHL
- Cassidy Named AHL Coach of the Year - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bala Returns to Ottawa - Grand Rapids Griffins
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