Comcast 2004 UHL All-Star Classic Coaches Announced
Published on January 15, 2004 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2) News Release
LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO--- The United Hockey League (UHL) announced Thursday that Richmond RiverDogs head coach Rod Langway and Muskegon Fury head coach Todd Nelson have been named the head coaches for the Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Star teams, respectively.
Langway led the expansion RiverDogs to a 17-11-1 record and a .603 winning percentage (as of December 31, 2003) to earn his place behind the Eastern Conference All-Star team bench. With 21 years of pro hockey experience as a player and assistant coach, the hall of fame defenseman was named the RiverDogs' first head coach in July 2003. Langway enjoyed a stellar 15-season National Hockey League (NHL) playing career with Washington and Montreal. He earned the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman (1983, 1984) and was also a three time post-season NHL All-Star and played in eight All-Star Games.
Nelson, in his first professional season as head coach and the eighth head coach in Fury franchise history, will coach the Western Conference All-Stars in the league's fifth All-Star Classic. He guided Muskegon to a 21-9-1 record and a league-best .694 winning percentage (as of December 31, 2003). Nelson's ties run deep in Muskegon where he both started and ended his playing career. As the 2001-02 Fury assistant coach, Nelson guided Muskegon to their second Colonial Cup. The Fury set the UHL record for lowest goals against (GA) at 164 and a goals against average (GAA) of 2.22, respectively. Nelson, the first player ever signed by the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) franchise in 1996, joined former Fury head coach Danton Cole as the Griffins' full-time assistant coach in 2002.
Hosted by the Fort Wayne Komets, the Comcast 2004 UHL All-Star Classic will be played in Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 18, 2004 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
The Fort Wayne Komets, defending 2003 Colonial Cup champions, earned the franchise's first ever Tarry Cup and hosted the largest crowd (10,593) to ever attend a UHL game. The Komets are enjoying their fifth year as a member of the UHL. The Komet franchise, the second oldest franchise in minor league hockey, was a member of the International Hockey League (IHL) for 47 years prior to joining the UHL in 1999 and is celebrating its 52nd year of professional hockey in the Fort Wayne area.
The UHL is celebrating its 13th consecutive season with 11 member clubs in six states, including the expansion Richmond RiverDogs (Virginia).
International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 15, 2004
- Comcast 2004 UHL All-Star Classic Coaches Announced - IHL 2
- Player Moves Continue In Elmira - Elmira Jackals
- Langway to Coach East All-Stars - Richmond RiverDogs
- Menicci, Sessa named All-Star starters - Quad City Mallards
- Jackals Downed by IceHawks - Elmira Jackals
- Jackals To Start All-Star Game - Elmira Jackals
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