ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Pickard Takes Over as Head Coach

December 19, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


K-Wings General Manager Paul Pickard to Replace Mark Kaufman as Head Coach

Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Wings of the United Hockey League announce effective immediately General Manager Paul Pickard will assume the Head Coaching duties of the Kalamazoo Wings. Pickard will take over for Mark Kaufman, who was relieved of his duties earlier today.

"This was a very difficult decision for the organization," said Pickard. "It's unfortunate that we had to make this change, but with our current position in the standings, and with just over half the season remaining, we felt now was the appropriate time because we still have plenty of games to turn this around. Mark is a great coach, and we wish him and his family well in their future endeavors."

Paul's first game behind the bench for the K-Wings will be tomorrow night, as Kalamazoo will host the Quad City Mallards at Wings Stadium.

The game will mark the first time since the 1997-98 season that Pickard stood behind the bench as a Head Coach. During that season, he guided the Huntington Blizzard (ECHL) to their first ever playoff appearance.

Pickard coaching career spans back to the 1983-84 season where was the Varsity Coach of Conestoga College. In 1984-85 Paul became the General Manager/Head Coach of the North Iowa Huskies (USHL). The native of Kitchener, Ontario, came to Kalamazoo in 1988 to become the President/GM/Head Coach of the Kalamazoo Jr. Wings. Starting the Jr. K-Wings was a return to Kalamazoo for Paul, who played professionally with the K-Wings for two seasons (81-82, 82-83).

With the Jr. K-Wings, Paul led Kalamazoo to a West Division Championship, NAHL Championship, and led the Jr. K-Wings to a fifth place, third place, and Finalist in the US Jr. Nationals in consecutive seasons. His efforts also earned him NAHL General Manager and Coach of the Year. Paul's biggest accomplishment with the Jr. K-Wings was graduating 55 players to Division I hockey.

Midway in the 1993 season, Paul accepted a position with the Huntington Blizzard (ECHL) to become the teams Assistant General Manager/Director of Hockey Operations/Head Coach. While Pickard did take the Blizzard to their first ever post-season appearance, he also landed an affiliation with the Worcester IceCats (AHL), and advanced 7 players to the AHL in his season and a half in Huntington.

After the 1995 season, Pickard was promoted by the St. Louis Blues organization to become the Associate Coach of their AHL franchise in Worcester, Massachusetts. Paul spent three seasons as a member of the Worcester IceCats organization. While in Worcester, Pickard helped the IceCats win a New England Division Championship, solidify an affiliation for St. Louis with the Baton Rouge KingFish (ECHL), and was part of the AHL All-Star Game, as coach of the Canadian Team All-Stars. Paul also coached 22 players who are now playing in the National Hockey League.

Paul joined Stadium Management Company in 1999, as Operations Manager for the facility, and after three years with the stadium was promoted to his current role as Vice President and General Manager. Pickard has already applied what made him a success on the ice, and continued that success away from hockey. The results have been emanating, as Wings Stadium continues to be the most used facility in Western Michigan. While Pickard will continue to serve as General Manager of both the stadium and the K-Wings, his immediate attention will be directed to the K-Wings play on the ice.

"We made a promise to the fans of giving them the best hockey team possible, and there is still time to deliver on that promise," said Pickard. "We can still make a run at the playoffs, and we hope that run will start this weekend."

The K-Wings will play three games this weekend including their game tomorrow against Quad City. After tomorrows home game, the K-Wings will finish the week on the road with two games against Missouri.

Tickets for the K-Wings game this Friday and all home games are available by contacting the Wings Stadium Box Office at (269) 345-5101.

For more information about Paul Pickard being named Head Coach, contact Mike Modugno, Director of Public Relations/Broadcaster at (269) 349-9772.

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