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ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Dean Stork Named Head Coach Of Greenville Road Warriors

June 29, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


GREENVILLE, SC: The Greenville Road Warriors announced today that former Cincinnati Cyclones Assistant Coach, Dean Stork, has been hired as the team's head coach. Stork was introduced at a press conference, held at the BI-LO Center, earlier today.

"Dean Stork has all the qualities that separate great coaches from the rest. He is driven, passionate, knowledgeable and possesses an outstanding work ethic. With two Kelly Cup championships in the last three seasons, Dean clearly understands what it takes to win. He is a great addition to our organization," said Road Warriors President and General Manager Neil Smith.

"I am very honored for this opportunity that Neil Smith and Steve Posner have given me to coach the Greenville Road Warriors. I wanted to coach in Greenville because of the first-class city, the top-notch organization that Neil and Steve have put together, and, of course, the great hockey fans here," said Stork.

"As a first-year head coach I look forward to handling the responsibilities of the position. I welcome the task of teaching young professional hockey players my own systems and showing them what the expectations and accountabilities are in becoming a championship level hockey club," added Stork.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta - Dean grew up in Penticton, British Columbia. He comes to Greenville with four seasons of ECHL coaching experience as Chuck Weber's assistant with the Cincinnati Cyclones. While in Cincinnati, Stork helped to guide the Cyclones through a four-year stretch that included the 2008 Kelly Cup championship and concluded with another Kelly Cup championship this past spring.

From the 2006-07 season through 2009-10, the Cyclones racked up a 177-92-19 record (.648 winning percentage). In 2007-08 Cincinnati's record was a league-best 55-12-5 which earned the Cyclones the Brabham Cup as the ECHL's regular season champions. The regular season was followed by the team's first Kelly Cup championship. With Stork's help the Cyclones have earned three consecutive trips to the American Conference Finals (2008, 2009, and 2010).

A defenseman during his playing days, Stork used his experience to guide the Cyclones' defensive corps. Under his direction, Cincinnati limited its opponents to just 2.80 goals per game - second best in the ECHL - over the past four years. Defensively the Cyclones set a team record by allowing just 178 goals (2.47 goals per game) in the 2007-08 season.

"We are excited for Dean Stork that he has accepted this opportunity in Greenville," Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber said. "He has done a great job assisting me in developing our players and bringing a winning hockey environment to Cincinnati. We wish him nothing but the best."

Stork, 34, turned to coaching in June of 2006 after a seven-year professional career. From 1999 to 2006 Stork played in 441 ECHL games and produced 137 points (32G, 105A) along with 485 penalty minutes.

He began his career with the Hampton Roads Admirals playing for ECHL Hall of Fame coach John Brophy. After a season with the Admirals, Dean embarked on a successful three-year run with the Arkansas RiverBlades. He served as an alternate captain in each of his three seasons there and set career highs for points (28) and goals (15) in the 2002-03 season. While there he also launched and ran Dean Stork Mini-Camps for kids.

Stork went on to play for four different teams over the final three seasons of his career. He captained the Cyclones in 2003-04 as well as the Stockton Thunder in 2005-06. 2004-05 was split between the Texas Wildcatters, where he spent 62 games, and the Columbia Inferno. A late-season addition to the Inferno, Stork helped the club capture an East Division championship.

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Sports Management, Stork played three seasons for the Minutemen. His career there spanned 101 games and produced 13 goals, 17 assists and 164 penalty minutes. At the time of his graduation in 1999 he held the school record for goals in a season by a defenseman at nine. Dean also excelled in the classroom and was a member of the Hockey East Honor Roll Squad. After college he signed a three-year contract with the Washington Capitals.

As the Road Warriors' head coach, Stork will look to apply what he learned as a player and assistant coach and craft a strong team in Greenville.

"Our fans in Greenville can look forward to a young team full of energy and aggression. I am a very demanding coach and my players will execute our systems properly every time. I place a premium on attention to details, and my team will as well."

Over his time in the ECHL, Stork has set the record for most game sevens participated in. Out of the 21 in league history he has been involved in nine and produced a 7-2 mark. Dean was 3-1 as a player and 4-1 as a coach which included a historic win this past spring. After falling behind the Reading Royals 3-0 in the American Conference Finals Stork and the Cyclones battled back to win the series in seven games and became the first team in ECHL history to pull off such a feat.

Stork will make his head coaching debut when the Road Warriors visit the South Carolina Stingrays in Charleston on October 15, 2010. Six days later Greenville will play its home opener at the BI-LO Center against the Florida Everblades.

Don't miss out on your chance to be a part of hockey's return to the Upstate! Season tickets for the Road Warriors' 2010-11 campaign are on sale now and you can reserve yours for as little as $100. To get your season tickets visit the Bi-Lo Center Box Office, point your web browser to www.greenvilleroadwarriors.com, or call the Road Warriors' at 864-250-4868.

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