Paul Gillis Steps Down as Mallards Coach
Published on May 12, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Moline, IL-Quad City Mallards President and General Manager Howard Cornfield announced today that Paul Gillis will not return as the Mallards head coach in 2005-06 in order to accept the head coaching position with the United Hockey League's Danbury Trashers.
Gillis spent a total of five seasons behind the Quad City bench in two tours with the franchise. He is the winningest coach in franchise history with a record of 235-112-33 (.662 winning percentage). Gillis coached the Mallards to 50 wins during three of his five campaigns in the Quad Cities and made three appearances in the Colonial Cup Finals.
During his first stay in the Quad Cities (1997-99), Gillis went 105-37-6. In 1997-98, he guided the team to the Colonial Cup as well as the best regular season record in the United League (55-18-1). The following year, Gillis' Mallards were defeated in the Colonial Cup Final after going 50-19-5 in the regular season. Gillis accepted a coaching position with the Ontario League's Guelph Storm following the 1998-99 season.
Gillis returned to the Mallards in 2002. In the first season of his second tour, Gillis went 41-25-10 with an injury-plagued line-up in the regular season. The Mallards made a run to the Colonial Cup Finals in the spring of 2003 before losing to Fort Wayne. In 2003-04, Gillis reached the 50-win plateau for the third time with the Mallards going 50-20-6 in the regular campaign. During the recently concluded season, Gillis compiled a 39-30-11 mark before taking the Tarry Cup Champions to seven games in the opening round of the playoffs.
Gillis leaves the Quad Cities as the second winningest coach in the history of the United Hockey League. During seven seasons in the UHL, Gillis has a record of 310 wins with just 167 losses and 51 shootout losses for a winning percentage of .635. He returns to Connecticut where he was the coach of the United League's New Haven Knights during the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons.
"Danbury is hiring one of the best coaches in minor league hockey, and this move will make them the team to beat next season," said Cornfield. "Gilly did an exceptional job with the Mallards, and we wish him well."
The search for a new coach will commence immediately.
Mallards season tickets are on sale now. Call the Mallards ticket office at (309) 764-7825 to reserve your seat for 2005-06. Keep checking qcmallards.com for the latest news on all Mallards events.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from May 12, 2005
- UHL Colonial Cup receives new look - IHL 2
- "Knuckles" to Appear at Miles for Medals Walk - Adirondack Frostbite
- UHL chooses Pointstreak as official real-time scoring and statistics company - IHL 2
- Paul Gillis Steps Down as Mallards Coach - Quad City Mallards
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