David Cunniff Named Iowa Wild Interim Head Coach
February 13, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Wild News Release
DES MOINES, IA - Iowa Wild General Manager Brent Flahr announced on Saturday evening the American Hockey League (AHL) club has promoted Associate Coach David Cunniff (pronounced CUNN-IFF) to Interim Head Coach of the Iowa Wild. Earlier in the evening, the Minnesota Wild promoted John Torchetti from Iowa to be the Interim Head Coach of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.
Cunniff, 44, brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Iowa Wild with over 13 years behind the bench. He recently helped guide the Albany Devils through the 2014-15 season as an assistant coach. The Devils posted a 37-28-5-6 record last year, missing the Calder Cup playoffs by two points.
He joined the Devils after spending the previous 12 years in the San Jose Sharks organization. The Milton, MA native was promoted to associate coach of the American Hockey League's Worcester Sharks in 2012-13 after serving the previous ten seasons as an assistant coach with both Cleveland (2002-06) and Worcester (2006-12).
Cunniff was a forward and played five seasons professionally, including three-plus seasons in the Devils organization with Raleigh (ECHL) and Albany (AHL). Between 1997-2000, he appeared in 120 AHL games, posting 25 points (5g-20a) and 219 penalty minutes. The former left wing began his pro career in 1996-97 with Jacksonville (ECHL), before joining Raleigh later that season. Cunniff, who played 148 career ECHL games, spent his last season in 2001-02 between Louisiana (ECHL) and Richmond (ECHL).
Additionally, Cunniff created and operates Cunniff Hockey, which offers hockey camps, private lessons and video analysis for all age groups and all levels of expertise. David is the son of former Albany Devils Head Coach John Cunniff.
Iowa begins a three-game road trip on Sunday, Feb. 14. The team will make two stops in Milwaukee and a stop in Chicago before returning home for two games against the Manitoba Moose on Monday, Feb. 22 and Wednesday, Feb. 24. Free parking will be available until all the Iowa Events Center lots are full courtesy of HITS 99.9 FM. Ticket specials, also sponsored by HITS 99.9 FM, will be available to those who bring their own student ID. A second ticket will be rewarded for only $0.99 with the purchase of a defense preferred ticket and a valid student ID. Wednesday's game will kick-start "Winning Wednesdays" at Wells Fargo Arena. If the Iowa Wild win all fans in attendance will receive a ticket to the next Wednesday home game (Mar. 30) courtesy of NASH ICON. The Wild will also be hosting a "Read Across America Book Drive". Fans who donate a book will receive a ticket voucher to a future Iowa Wild game. Wednesday will also be "Jim Beam and NASH FM Guys Night", featuring drink specials of $5 Beam Orchard Twists and $10 Beam Orchard Twists in a mason jar.
Fans may purchase single-game tickets multiple ways, either through the team's website - www.Iowawild.com, the Wells Fargo Arena box office or participating Hy-Vee food stores. Tickets are available online at www.Iowawild.com under the single game tickets tab. The Wells Fargo Arena box office is open Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and closed on Sunday. For Saturday game days, the box office will open at 10 a.m. For Sunday game days the box office will open at 12 p.m. Fans may also purchase tickets by calling 1-844-55-HYVEE or by visiting participating Hy-Vee food stores locations in the greater Des Moines area. Those interested may also visit www.hy-veetix.com. Fans interested in buying full season, or smaller season packages may call the Iowa Wild front office at 515-564-8700.
The Iowa Wild 2015-16 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center, it runs from October through April. Fans may purchase seats to see any of the team's 38 regular season home games at Wells Fargo Arena. Season tickets to see the Wild play its 2015-16 season at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 per game. For more information on tickets, including ticket plans and group seating, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com.
American Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2016
- B-Sens Shut Out Crunch in Ottawa - Binghamton Senators
- Reign Fall in Physical Contest with Heat - Ontario Reign
- Chouinard Nets Game-Winner, Griffins Defeat Iowa Wild 4-3 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- David Cunniff Named Iowa Wild Interim Head Coach - Iowa Wild
- Monsters Fall to Stars in Overtime, 4-3 - Cleveland Monsters
- Matheson Lifts Pirates Past Penguins in OT - Portland Pirates
- Torchetti Named Minnesota Wild Interim Head Coach - Iowa Wild
- Stars Pick up the 4-3 Overtime Win Behind Dickinson's Heroics - Texas Stars
- Penguins Fall in Overtime to Pirates, 2-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Griffins Late Third Period Goal Sinks Wild - Iowa Wild
- Fans Enjoy Postgame Photos with Players But Phantoms Fall to Utica - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Comets Collect Sixth Win in Last Seven Games - Utica Comets
- Gulls Sweep Checkers on Pink in the Rink Weekend - Charlotte Checkers
- Gulls Take Second Game in Charlotte, 5-4 - San Diego Gulls
- Falcons Fall in Shootouts to Bears - Springfield Falcons
- Bears Come Back to Defeat Falcons - Hershey Bears
- Bridgeport runs win streak to eight - Bridgeport Islanders
- Rowe, Bridgeport Take it to Wolf Pack 7-3 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Toronto Marlies Post Game Notes - Toronto Marlies
- IceCaps Fend off Marlies - St. John's IceCaps
- Albany Devils Shut out Rochester Americans for Second Straight Game - Albany Devils
- Amerks Come up Empty-Handed in Albany - Rochester Americans
- Manitoba Moose Post-Game Report - Manitoba vs. Chicago - February 13 - Manitoba Moose
- Crunch Topped by Senators, 2-0 - Syracuse Crunch
- Rampage Blanked by Barracuda 5-0 - San Antonio Rampage
- SJ Barracuda Pick up 1st Shutout of Season in 5-0 Home Win over Rampage - San Jose Barracuda
- Andrew MacDonald Recalled by Flyers - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Kristo, Wolves Hunt Down Moose in OT - Chicago Wolves
- Red Wings Recall Ouellet - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Reign and Heat Clash over Pacific-Division Points Tonight - Ontario Reign
- IceHogs Recall Mattson - Rockford IceHogs
- Heat Go for Eighth-Straight Win at Stockton Arena Tonight at 7:30 p.m. - Stockton Heat
- Gulls Ink Pelech to PTO - San Diego Gulls
- Game Day: Albany Devils vs. Rochester Americans, 5 Pm - Albany Devils
- Ontario Reign Game Preview: Reign and Heat Clash over Pacific-Division Points Tonight - Ontario Reign
- Wolves Add Blain and Clark - Chicago Wolves
- Rockford Falls in Overtime Thriller - Rockford IceHogs
- Reign Rally Late, Fall 3-2 to Condors - Ontario Reign
- Nilsson Terrific in Debut as Condors Win Fourth Straight, 3-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Griffins Fall to Iowa Wild, 4-2 - Grand Rapids Griffins
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