River Rats announce coaching change

Published on February 17, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany N.Y. – The Albany River Rats announced today that Robbie Ftorek has been named the fifth head coach in Albany River Rats history. He replaces Dennis "Red" Gendron who will remain with the New Jersey Devils organization. The announcement was made by River Rats' General Manager Chris Lamoriello.

Ftorek, 52, previously coached Albany from their inaugural 1993-94 campaign through the conclusion of the 1995-96 season, guiding the River Rats to a 12-2 record en route to the 1995 Calder Cup Championship. He put together a 138-70-42 regular season record and a 14-9 post-season mark in three seasons behind the Albany bench. Ftorek won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the American Hockey League's outstanding coach in both the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons.

He has a career National Hockey League coaching record of 229-170-44 in 443 games with Los Angeles, New Jersey and Boston, where he led the Bruins to a 76-65-14 mark over two seasons in his most recent head coaching position.

Ftorek began his coaching career in 1985 with the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL, whom he guided to a 96-70-2 record over two seasons. He was promoted to head coach of the organization's parent club, the Los Angeles Kings on December 9, 1987. Ftorek led the Kings to a 65-56-11 mark through the 1998-99 season. He was named head coach of the AHL's Halifax Citadels prior to the start of the 1989-90 campaign. Ftorek guided Halifax to a 25-19-4 mark through 48 games before joining the parent Quebec Nordiques as an assistant coach for the 1990-91 season.

The Needham, Massachusetts native then joined the Devils organization as an assistant coach on July 9, 1991. He was later named head coach of the Devils' AHL affiliate in Utica on July 31, 1992. Ftorek guided the Utica Devils to a 33-36-11 record during the 1992-93 campaign, prior to the franchise's relocation to the Capital District. He rejoined New Jersey's coaching staff as an assistant for both the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons before being named the Devils' head coach on May 21, 1998. He turned in an 88-49-19 record in 156 games behind the New Jersey bench.

His professional playing career included NHL totals of 77 goals and 150 assists for 227 points in 334 games with Detroit, Quebec and the New York Rangers. Ftorek starred in the now-defunct World Hockey Association where he was named Second Team WHA All-Star in 1976 and was league MVP as well as First Team All-Star in 1977 after scoring a career-high 46 goals, 71 assists and 117 points. He would go on to earn two more WHA All-Star selections before returning to the NHL after a six-year hiatus. Ftorek was a member of the 1972 U. S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team and was inducted into the U. S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

The Albany River Rats, in their 11th season as a member of the American Hockey League, are owned and operated by Capital District Sports Inc., and serve as the primary affiliate of the Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils.

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