Davis Payne promoted to assistant in Peoria; Keith McCambridge takes over behind bench

May 24, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - After four years as Alaska's head coach, Davis Payne has resigned to join the St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach with their American Hockey League affiliate in Peoria. As a result, former Aces captain and assistant coach Keith McCambridge has been promoted to head coach, effective immediately.

The 33-year-old McCambridge becomes the 10th head coach in Alaska's 13 years as a professional hockey club after serving last season as strictly an assistant coach under Payne. "I'm excited about the opportunity to be a head coach in one of the premier organizations in the ECHL," said McCambridge. "And I look forward to continuing the winning tradition that Davis has established here over the last four years."

Prior to last season, McCambridge had been a player/assistant as well as team captain for three years with the Aces, helping the club capture the 2006 Kelly Cup. He played 627 games over an 11-year pro career spent mostly as a consistent, stay-at-home defenseman. McCambridge originally was selected in the eighth round of the 1994 NHL Draft and twice helped lead his teams to the American Hockey League's Calder Cup semi-finals, in 1996 with the Saint John Flames, and in 2001 as captain of the Providence Bruins. He and his wife, Sue, live in Anchorage with their daughter Lauren, 4, and son Aidan, 1.

"With a year of being a full-time assistant under his belt and his knowledge of our existing systems, both on and off the ice, we felt that Keith was ready for this challenge," said Aces managing member Terry Parks. "We're also proud to have had Davis as our head coach for the last four years and that our success here has helped him take the next step in his profession."

Alaska's NHL affiliate in St. Louis, led by general manager Larry Pleau, has agreed to terms with Payne on a two-year deal to be an assistant for the Peoria Rivermen under head coach Dave Basseggio. Payne leaves Alaska with an astounding .691 winning percentage (185-75-28) as head coach over four years, easily the best in club history. In addition to leading Alaska to the 2006 ECHL championship, he guided the Aces to three consecutive trips to the conference finals, the first time in 15 years and only the second time in league history that a team advanced to the ECHL's Final Four in three straight seasons. 38 of Alaska's 48 lifetime playoff wins came under Payne's direction, as his winning percentage in the playoffs (38-21, .644) nearly matched that of his four regular seasons in Anchorage. He remains second all-time in the history of the ECHL with 50 postseason victories to his credit, 12 having come during his three years as head coach of the Pee Dee (S.C.) Pride.

In 2007, Alaska became only the third team ever to record consecutive 100-point regular seasons with a record of 49-16-7. 2007-08 Alaska Aces season tickets start at just $396 and are now available; please call 258-ACES or visit www.alaskaaces.com for more details.



ECHL Stories from May 24, 2007


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