Iowa Stars hire Paul Jerrard as Assistant Coach
June 16, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
Iowa Bench DES MOINES, Ia. - The Iowa Stars announced today that the American Hockey League club has named Paul Jerrard as assistant coach. He will join Head Coach Dave Allison on the Iowa coaching staff as the club begins AHL play in the fall. "We are excited to have Paul Jerrard on board with the coaching staff of the Iowa Stars," said Dallas Stars General Manager Doug Armstrong, who oversees all aspects of the Iowa's hockey operations as the Stars' primary development affiliate. "He has an impressive resume at the AHL level and should be a great asset in helping develop players." Jerrard, 40, has more than eight seasons of coaching experience, including the last two as assistant coach with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He served as the Colorado Avalanche's assistant coach responsible for video during the 2002-03 NHL season, and previously has coached for four years at his alma mater, Lake Superior State University, and one season as assistant coach with the AHL Lowell Lock Monsters. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Jerrard spent 10 years as a defenseman in professional hockey. Originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the ninth round (173rd overall) of the 1983 Entry Draft, Jerrard spent much of his playing career in the Stars organization, having been traded to the Minnesota North Stars in October, 1988. He skated in five games for Minnesota during the 1988-89 NHL season, and played parts of six seasons with the Stars' then-primary affiliate in Kalamazoo (International Hockey League). He was a member of the 1997 Calder Cup-winning Hershey Bears. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jerrard graduated from Lake Superior State in 1987 with a degree in recreational management, with a minor in business administration. Jerrard has earned his strength and conditioning certification and is a member of the National Strength Coaches Association (NSCA). He and his wife, Cheryl, have two daughters, Catherine and Meaghan.
About the Iowa Stars and the Affiliation with Dallas The Iowa Stars will begin a five-year affiliation agreement with the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars this fall as Iowa plays their inaugural season in the AHL. As per the affiliation agreement, the Dallas Stars will provide up to 22 players to the Iowa Stars. Dallas will also be responsible for all hockey operation decisions, including the hiring of a head coach, assistant coach, equipment manager and medical trainer. The Iowa Stars will join 28 other clubs in the AHL, which serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. Entering its 70th season of operation this fall, over 80 percent of all players to compete in the NHL in 2003-04 were AHL graduates, and more than 400 players took the ice in both leagues. The New Wells Fargo Arena The Iowa Stars will begin play in the AHL in October 2005 in the state-of-the-art Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines. The venue is scheduled to officially open on July 6, 2005. Currently in the final stages of construction, the arena is located in the heart of Iowa's capital city along the banks of the Des Moines River. Along with great sightlines, the Wells Fargo Arena, with a seating capacity of more than 17,000 people for many events, features 600 club seats, 36 corporate suites, a 180-seat restaurant and state-of-the-art video boards. The seating capacity for hockey will be 15,585. The Wells Fargo Arena, along with the Hy-Vee Hall, Veterans Memorial Auditorium and Polk County Convention Complex, form the Iowa Events Center, a premier state-of-the-art multi-purpose facility for sports, concerts, entertainment, trade shows, conventions and exhibits. This $217 million facility totals more than one million square feet in size. The arena features a panoramic view of the downtown skyline, Des Moines River and the golden capitol dome. The Wells Fargo Arena is managed by Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field.
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American Hockey League Stories from June 16, 2005
- McDonald Named Rivermen General Manager of Hockey Operations - Peoria Rivermen
- Steve Pleau Named Rivermen Associate Head Coach - Peoria Rivermen
- Rivermen Unveil New Home & Away Jerseys for 2005-2006 AHL Season - Peoria Rivermen
- Iowa Stars hire Paul Jerrard as Assistant Coach - Iowa Chops
- AHL Wheels Continue to Spin - San Antonio next out? - OSC Original by Chris Meiman
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