Hurricanes sign River Rats coaches to contracts

Published on May 24, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - The Albany River Rats announced today that Tom Rowe has been signed to a multi-year contract by the Carolina Hurricanes to remain the head coach and general manager for the American Hockey League club. The River Rats also announced that Carolina has signed Geordie Kinnear to a multi-year contract to serve as Albany's assistant coach.

"Tom has done an excellent job of helping our players develop at the American HockeY League level," Hurricanes Vice President and Assistant General Manager Jason Karmanos said. "His leadership and experience as a player and coach are assets for Albany and the Hurricanes organization. Geordie's history with the River Rats and his knowledge of the defensive side of the game makes him a good fit to join our organization on a full-time basis."

Rowe, who turned 51 yesterday, enters his fourth season as the head coach and general manager of the Hurricanes' top minor-league affiliate and his second year as head coach and general manager of the River Rats. In 2006-07, he led Albany to a record of 37-36-4-3, guiding the River Rats to their first playoff berth in seven years. In their first year as the primary affiliate for the Hurricanes, Albany posted the second-largest improvement in the AHL, by 24 points more than the previous season. A native of Lynn, Mass., Rowe began his head-coaching career with Lowell in 2004-05, helping the Lock Monsters earn its best finish in franchise history with a record of 47-27-1-5. Prior to being promoted to head coach, Rowe spent three seasons as an assistant coach for Lowell.

As a player, the Washington Capitals drafted Rowe in the third round of the 1976 NHL Entry Draft. He played eight professional seasons in the NHL and AHL, scoring 85 goals and 185 points in 357 career NHL games with Washington, Hartford and Detroit. In the 1978-79 season, he became the first American to score 30 goals in a single season. Prior to joining the Lock Monsters as an assistant coach, Rowe gained experience as the Assistant General Manager of the Hartford Whalers from 1990-92 and as a U.S. scout.

Kinnear, 33, served as a volunteer assistant for Albany in 2006-07 after spending four seasons as an assistant coach for the River Rats when they were still affiliated with the New Jersey Devils. Kinnear originally joined the Albany coaching staff on August 3, 2001, after retiring as a player in December 2000 due to medical reasons. An original River Rat, Kinnear ranks second on the club's all-time list in games played (406) and penalty minutes (1,094). He was a member of Albany's 1995 Calder Cup championship team, was selected to four AHL All-Star Classics (1995-1999) and served as team captain for three seasons (1995-1999). New Jersey's eighth-round selection (162nd overall) in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, Kinnear played in four NHL games with the Atlanta Thrashers during the 1999-2000 season after signing with Atlanta as a free agent.

For information on River Rats ticket packages, please call (518) 487-2244 or visit www.albanyriverrats.com.

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