AHL Peoria Rivermen

Drake Berehowsky Named Orlando Head Coach

Published on June 19, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


The Orlando Solar Bears announced today that they have named Rivermen assistant coach Drake Berehowsky as the first head coach in ECHL team history. Berehowsky will oversee the Solar Bears hockey operations and will also be responsible for recruiting players, working with the Minnesota Wild/Houston Aeros (Orlando's NHL/AHL affiliates), and supporting the Solar Bears youth hockey initiatives.

Berehowsky, 40, was with Peoria for three seasons and worked under Davis Payne, Rick Wamsley and Jared Bednar. He joined the Rivermen on Aug. 11, 2009 after having previously served in the same role for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. Working primarily with the defense and penalty killing units, the Rivermen posted a 119-96-7-14 record.

"Drake possesses all of the traits we are looking for in our head coach," stated Bob Ohrablo, Chief Operating Officer/Managing Partner of the Solar Bears. "He was an aggressive, hard-nosed NHL defenseman with a long playing career, a successful assistant coach and a student of the game. Drake has certainly demonstrated a passion for winning."

In 16 professional seasons as a player, the former first round pick accumulated 549 regular season games in the National Hockey League scattered between six different teams. Taken 10th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, he was a force for two seasons on the North Bay Centennials blue line and was named a First-Team All-Star and the CHL Defenceman-of-the-Year in 1992. After scoring 27 points in 28 games for the AHL's St. John's Maple Leafs, Berehowsky was recalled midway through the 1992-1993 season by the Maple Leafs.

In April 1995, Toronto shipped him to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He spent some time in the minors with Cleveland (IHL), San Antonio (IHL), Carolina (AHL), and Hamilton (AHL) until joining the Edmonton Oilers in 1997-98. In 1998, Berehowsky was claimed by the Nashville Predators in the expansion draft. In 1999-2000, he set career highs with 12 goals and 32 points. At the 2001 trade deadline, the Predators dealt him to the Vancouver Canucks where he spent the early part of the 2001-02 season before joining the Phoenix Coyotes midway through the year.

After parts of two seasons with the Coyotes, Berehowsky signed with the Penguins in the summer of 2003, his second stint with the club. Upon his arrival, Berehowsky went on to register 21 points (5-16-21) in 47 games before being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second half of the season. He played briefly in Sweden and Germany before retiring following the 2005-06 season.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from June 19, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central