Ron Filion Named Roadrunners Head Coach
February 28, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release
PHOENIX â Ron Filion, whose resume includes a diverse background in professional hockey coaching, has been selected as the head coach of Phoenix Roadrunners of the ECHL, as announced today by Roadrunners President Claude Lemieux.
Filion, 39, has coached professionally in the U.S. and France, having spent five seasons with the Cholet Dogs of the European First Division. While in Cholet, Filion led the Dogs to a league championship in 1997. His professional coaching experience also includes serving as an assistant coach with the ECHL Augusta Lynx and the West Coast Hockey League Tucson Gila Monsters.
"Ron Filion's experience in player development makes him an ideal choice to serve as our head coach," Lemieux said. "We are excited to have Ron as a part of our organization."
Former NHL player J.J. Daigneault will serve as assistant coach and director of player development. Daigneault brings 17 years of playing experience, and recently served as a player-coach in the Swiss Elite Hockey League. Daigneault was a member of the 1993 Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens, and was a member of the 1984 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team.
"The goal of the Phoenix Roadrunners is to win, and to provide the great hockey fans of Phoenix with a team they can be proud of," said Lemeiux. "In Ron Filion and J.J. Daigneault, we have a coaching staff that will enable us to achieve that goal."
Introduced earlier this month by the investment group that owns and operates the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Rattlers and Phoenix Mercury, and operates America West Arena, the Roadrunners will begin play in the ECHL in October, bringing back professional hockey to Downtown Phoenix.
The ECHL is considered the premier "AA" league in the world, and works with both the AAA-level leagues and the NHL in player development. Since its inception in 1988, the league has produced 256 players who have appeared in NHL uniforms. The Roadrunners join 27 other teams in the league. Teams play a 72-game regular season, with AWA set to host 36 games next season.
The Roadrunners will play in the National Conference West Division with teams in Alaska, Bakersfield, Fresno, Idaho, Las Vegas, Long Beach, San Diego and Victoria, British Columbia.
Ticket information can be obtained by calling 602-462-GOAL.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from February 28, 2005
- Ron Filion Named Roadrunners Head Coach - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Fresno Falcons Weekly Update - Fresno Falcons
- Wheeling Nailers Week In Review - Wheeling Nailers
- Condors acquire Brunelle from Dayton - Bakersfield Condors
- Birbraer Named Gulls' Player Of The Month - San Diego Gulls
- North Division Playoff Race Deadlocked - ECHL
- ECHL This Week - ECHL
- Two Out Of Three Marks Week For Lynx - Augusta Lynx
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Ice Dogs Weekly - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Checkers continue to lead East Division - Charlotte Checkers
- Ice Pilots Have Best Record In The League At 37-13-4 For 78 Points - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Jeff Deslauriers Recalled by Edmonton - Greenville Grrrowl
- Ice Pilots Host Deep Sea Fishing Trip - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- A Dog Fight For First - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Johnstown Chiefs Weekly - Johnstown Chiefs
- âGet Fed By The Stormâ At Max & Erma's Maumee - Toledo Walleye
- Storm weekly - Toledo Walleye
- Titans join logjam in division - Trenton Devils
- Scorers return as Condors roll up pair of wins - Bakersfield Condors
- Gulls five games out of playoff spot - San Diego Gulls
- Royals move to within one point of first place - Reading Royals
- Steelheads weekly update - Idaho Steelheads
- Gators go 1-1-2 during a roller coaster week - Louisiana IceGators
- Mississippi Registers Six-Point Week - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Gladiators Weekly Update - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Pee Dee Pride Weekly - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Aces win 4-3, take over first place - Alaska Aces
- Stingrays Finish Week 2-2-1 - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
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.
