Former Rivermen Head Coach Don Granato Receives Contract Extension with Worcester
June 24, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Peoria, Ill. (June 25, 2004) - Larry Pleau, Senior Vice President/General Manager of the St. Louis Blues and General Manager of Hockey Operations of the American Hockey League's (AHL) Worcester IceCats, announced today that former Peoria Rivermen Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Don Granato, who guided the Rivermen to a 2000 Kelly Cup Championship, has been awarded a contract extension with the IceCats for the 2004-2005 season.
This coming season will be Granato's fifth at Worcester's helm. The 36-year-old native of Downers Grove, Illinois has compiled a record of 159-117-44 with the IceCats, a winning percentage of .566, and has qualified for the playoffs in each of his four seasons. Granato led Worcester to a franchise-record 48 wins and the team's first AHL regular season title during his first season (2000-2001) with the club, earning the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL's Coach of the Year.
Granato became the all-time wins leader in IceCats coaching history with his 146th victory last season, reaching the milestone with a win on February 14, 2004 over the Philadelphia Phantoms. All-time, Granato has a 358-253-67 record as a head coach and a .577 winning percentage.
With the Rivermen, Granato posted a 45-20-5 record during the 1999-2000 season before capturing the Kelly Cup. Prior to joining the Rivermen, he served as head coach and general manager of the Columbus Chill from 1997-1999. As head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers of the Junior "A" United States Hockey League (USHL), he spearheaded two Clark Cup Championships in 1996 and 1997.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Granato was a member of the 1990 NCAA Division I National Championship Team.
The Rivermen open their ninth season in the ECHL - America's Premier AA Hockey League - at home against the archrival Dayton Bombers on Friday, October 22. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Carver Arena. Season tickets for 2004-2005 are on sale now. Ticket packages start at just $299.
ECHL Stories from June 24, 2004
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- Former Rivermen Head Coach Don Granato Receives Contract Extension with Worcester - Peoria Rivermen
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