Portland Pirates' Dineen wins Louis A.R. Pieri Award
April 7, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League announced today that Kevin Dineen of the Portland Pirates has been named the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding coach for the 2005-06 season, as voted by members of the media in each of the league's 27 cities.
In his first season coaching at any level, Dineen has guided Portland (48-18-5-3) to the brink of its first-ever division title, occupying first place in the Atlantic Division since Dec. 10. With six games remaining, the Pirates' 104 points are tied for the most in the city of Portland's 28-year history of hosting AHL hockey. The Pirates rank second in the league in offense, averaging 3.80 goals per game, and also boast six players among the top 20 in plus/minus rating. Their 48 wins and 24 road victories are both club records.
Dineen, whose father Bill won the Pieri Award in both 1985 and 1986, led his team through the loss of Dustin Penner, Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Zenon Konopka to long-term NHL recalls, as well as injuries to players like Tim Brent, Pierre Parenteau, Curtis Glencross, Dieter Kochan and Jordan Smith.
A 42-year-old native of Quebec City, Dineen made his professional debut in the AHL with Binghamton in 1984-85 before going on to a standout 18-year NHL career in which he became one of eight players in league history to record more than 300 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes in a career. After retiring on Nov. 5, 2002, Dineen spent two seasons in the Columbus Blue Jackets' hockey operations department before being hired by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as their primary development coach in July 2005.
The Louis A.R. Pieri Award, which was first presented in 1968, honors the late Mr. Pieri, a long-time contributor to the AHL as the owner of the Providence Reds. Pieri also served as the general manager of three Calder Cup champions (1938, 1940, 1949) in Providence.
Dineen is the third Pirates coach to win the Pieri Award, joining Barry Trotz (1994) and Glen Hanlon (2000). Other previous winners of the award include Frank Mathers (1969), Fred Shero (1970), Al MacNeil (1972, '77), Floyd Smith (1973), John Muckler (1975), Jacques Demers (1983), Larry Pleau (1987), Mike Milbury (1988), John Paddock (1988), Marc Crawford (1993), Robbie Ftorek (1995, '96), Peter Laviolette (1999), Don Granato (2001), Claude Julien (2003), Claude Noel (2004) and Randy Cunneyworth (2005).
In operation since 1936, the AHL is celebrating its historic 70th anniversary this season, and continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. Over 80 percent of all NHL players today are AHL graduates, and more than 350 AHL players have been recalled to the NHL this season alone.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2006
- Peoria Allows Two Power-play Goals in Loss - Peoria Rivermen
- Stars Edge Knights In OT, 3-2 - Abbotsford Heat
- Defenseman's Overtime Winner Lifts Phantoms 5-4 - Adirondack Phantoms
- Monarchs Fall To Falcons, 7-4 - Manchester Monarchs
- 'Dogs Downed By Crunch - Hamilton Bulldogs
- P-Bruins Defeat River Rats 3-2 - Providence Bruins
- Penguins Clinch East Division With 5-4 Win Friday Night - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Admirals' Comeback Efforts Fall Just Short - Norfolk Admirals
- Sound Tigers Blanked In Binghamton 4-0 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Kings Send Petiot Back To The Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- Marlies playoff passion set to hit Toronto - Toronto Marlies
- Marlies open Ice Deck at Ricoh Coliseum - Toronto Marlies
- Help the Pirates Support the American Heart Association - Portland Pirates
- Griffins celebrate 10th anniversary finale - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Red Wings' top draft choice joins Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bears begin quest for ninth Calder Cup championship - Hershey Bears
- Giordano Recalled To Calgary; Knights Bring In Two Defensemen - Abbotsford Heat
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Monarchs To Face Either Hartford Or Portland In The Playoffs - Manchester Monarchs
- Kevin Dineen Named AHL's Outstanding Coach - Portland Pirates
- New Auctions Start Today - Iowa Chops
- Wolves to Present Doell with Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award - Chicago Wolves
- Falcons Host Monarchs Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Hamilton begins three-game weekend tonight - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Westrum returns from Minnesota - Houston Aeros
- Portland Pirates' Dineen wins Louis A.R. Pieri Award - AHL
- Bears hit the road for two this weekend - Hershey Bears
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
