Ken McRae is CHL Coach of Year
Published on March 11, 2003 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Indianapolis Ice News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, IN-- The Central Hockey League and Indianapolis Ice announced today that head coach Ken McRae has been named the CHL's Coach of the Year as selected through voting among the CHL's head coaches. McRae was a runaway winner for the award as he was first choice on 11 of the coaches' ballots and second on the remaining four ballots.
"On behalf of the Central Hockey League we congratulate Ken on receiving this well-deserved honor," said CHL President Brad Treliving. "Ken's leadership, passion and will to succeed has re-established the Indianapolis Ice as one of the elite programs within the Central Hockey League.
McRae, 34, completely overhauled a 20-37-7 squad from last season keeping only five players from last year's team and turning the team into an instant CHL Championship contender. With a record of 39-14-7 and a Northeast Division title, McRaes' troops enter this week's play as the only team in the Northern Conference to have clinched a playoff berth and stand within one point of capturing the Northern Conference regular season championship.
"I could not have done this without the support and opportunity from many people," said McRae. "Larry Linde (Ice General Manager) gave me the opportunity to be a head coach, Dave Tippett (Dallas Stars Head Coach) got me started in the coaching field, while Brent Hughes (Austin Ice Bats) brought me along in my three years as an assistant in Austin.
With one win in the team's remaining four regular season games, the Ice can not only clinch home ice advantage for the entire portion of the Northern Conference playoff rounds, but reach the 40-win milestone for the first time in its four-year CHL history. The 39 wins at the moment equals the mark set during the 70-game season of the 1999-00 championship year.
"I also have to give most of the credit this season to the 18 guys on the hockey team," said McRae. "Coming in as a first-year guy, the team stuck behind me and bought into my system and went out and played with great effort each and every night.
Before arriving in Indianapolis, McRae spent three seasons as the assistant coach for the Austin Ice Bats and the previous year as an assistant with the Houston Aeros of the former IHL.
McRae was part of an Ice Bats squad last season that reached the President's Cup Finals and during his three years as a member of the organization the team recorded a record of 128-60-18. His lone year in Houston was rewarding as well as the Aeros were the 1999 Turner Cup Champions.
The native of Finch, Ontario has an extensive playing background that includes ten professional seasons in the NHL, AHL and IHL. He was a former first round NHL Draft Pick of the Quebec Nordiques (18th overall) in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft and played 137 games in the NHL spending time with the Nordiques and Toronto Maple Leafs.
He compiled 35 points (14G, 21A) and 364 penalty minutes for his NHL career and was former teammates with current NHL Hall of Famers Guy Lafleur and Peter Stastny and future Hall of Famers Joe Sakic and Doug Gilmour.
Overall, he played 649 career games professionally and registered "power forward" type numbers which included 488 points (196G, 292A) and 1,711 penalty minutes. His playing career was cut short in 1998 following a solid season with the Houston Aeros due to several cases of blood clotting.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2003
- Periard in for Tomorrow's Game - Laredo Bucks
- Oilers Hosting Indy Tonight - Tulsa Oilers
- Gorillas Derek Hahn Wins CHL Rookie of the Year Honors - Amarillo Gorillas
- Ken McRae is CHL Coach of Year - Indianapolis Ice
- Silver Wins Award Yet Again - Indianapolis Ice
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