New York Rangers announce Ryan McGill as Hartford Wolf Pack Head Coach
June 27, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release
New York, June 27, 2002 -- New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has named Ryan McGill as the Hartford Wolf Pack's new head coach. McGill coached the Kootenay Ice to the Memorial Cup last season, crowning them champions of Canadian Major Junior Hockey. Sather also announced that former New York Ranger Nick Fotiu will complete the staff as McGill's assistant coach.
"The Rangers organization is excited to bring one of the game's brightest young coaching minds to the Wolf Pack," said Sather. "Ryan has a proven record of success in developing top prospects in the Canadian Hockey League, and we feel confident that he will play an integral role in furthering the winning tradition that has been established in Hartford."
McGill, 33, who becomes the third head coach in Wolf Pack history, has spent the past four seasons as head coach of the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Last season, he guided the Ice to a 38-27-7 record for 83 points and a second place finish in the WHL's B.C. Division. In post-season play, McGill coached the Ice to the WHL playoff championship and the organization's first Memorial Cup title, the championship of Canadian Major Junior hockey. He finished the 2002 playoff competition with a 18-7 record.
McGill has posted an overall record of 174-133-34-9 in 350 contests (.559 winning percentage) with the Kootenay Ice organization. He began his coaching career with the Edmonton Ice in 1997-98, relocating with the team to Kootenay after the season. Under his direction, the Ice also participated in the 1999-00 Memorial Cup and posted consecutive 100-plus point seasons in 1999-00 and 2000-01.
A native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, McGill played six seasons in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers as a defenseman. He appeared in 151 career contests, registering four goals and 15 assists for 19 points, along with 351 penalty minutes. In addition, McGill captured the International Hockey League's 1989-90 Turner Cup championship with the Indianapolis Ice, Chicago's top affiliate. Prior to beginning his professional playing career, he was a member of the 1987-88 Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) Memorial Cup championship team.
Fotiu, 50, returns to the Rangers organization where he became the first New York City native to play for the club and immediately became one of the most popular players in team history. He has spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach for the San Jose Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, first with the Kentucky Thoroughblades from 1998-99 through 2000-01, and last year with the Cleveland Barons. Fotiu joined the San Jose organization on January 15, 1998 as a professional scout after coaching the Johnstown Chiefs of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) for two-plus seasons. He also served as co-coach of the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks for a portion of the 1990-91 campaign.
A Staten Island, NY native, Fotiu skated in 455 contests in two separate stints with the Rangers, collecting 41 goals and 62 assists for 103 points, along with 970 penalty minutes. A veteran of 13 NHL seasons, he appeared in 646 career contests with the Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and the Rangers, registering 60 goals and 77 assists for 137 points, along with 1,362 penalty minutes. Fotiu also played 116 games for the Hartford Whalers from 1979-80 through 1980-81, totaling 14 goals and 11 assists for 25 points, along with 186 penalty minutes in 116 games. In addition, his career skated two seasons with the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association.
American Hockey League Stories from June 27, 2002
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- New York Rangers announce Ryan McGill as Hartford Wolf Pack Head Coach - Connecticut Whale
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