Seven Former ECHL All-Star Coaches In NHL, AHL

Published on January 13, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - There are two former ECHL All-Star Game coaches and one former ECHL All-Star Game equipment manager behind the benches of National Hockey League teams and five former ECHL All-Star Game coaches behind the benches of American Hockey League teams.

Peter Horachek, who coached the Northern Conference in the 2002 ECHL All-Star Game, is in his first season as an assistant coach with Nashville of the NHL. Horachek, who coached in the ECHL with in 1990-91 and Trenton in 2001-02, coached Milwaukee of the AHL in 2002-03. Jim Playfair, who coached the Northern Conference to a 10-7 win in the 1996 ECHL All-Star Game, is in his first full season as an assistant coach with Calgary of the NHL. Playfair, who was named ECHL Coach of the Year after coaching Dayton in 1994-95, coached three seasons with Calgary's primary development club of the AHL.

Scott Moon, who was equipment manager for the Southern Conference at the 2002 ECHL All-Star Game, is in his first season as head equipment manager and second season overall with the New York Islanders.

Claude Noel, who coached the Northern Conference to an 8-2 win in the 2003 ECHL All-Star Game, is in his first season as head coach of Milwaukee of the American Hockey League. Noel coached in the ECHL with Toledo in 2002-03, with Roanoke in 1990-91 and with Dayton from 1991-03. Noel was named ECHL Coach of the Year in 2002-03 after leading Toledo to the regular season title. Roy Sommer coached the North to a 10-7 win in the 1996 ECHL All-Star Game and also coached the East in the 1995 ECHL All-Star Game. Sommer is the head coach of Cleveland in the AHL, his sixth season as the head coach of San Jose's top affiliate. Sommer led Richmond to the 1995 ECHL Riley Cup Championship and he was named ECHL Coach of the Year after leading Richmond to the best regular season record in 1995-96.

Don Granato, who coached the Northern Conference to an 8-6 win in the 2000 ECHL All-Star Game, is in his fourth season as the head coach of Worcester of the AHL. Granato was named AHL Coach of the Year following his first season in 2000-01, a season that saw Worcester finish with a team record 48 wins and the AHL regular-season title with 108 points. Granato coached in the ECHL with Columbus (Ohio) from 1997-99 and Peoria in 1999-2000, leading the Rivermen to the ECHL Kelly Cup Championship in 2000. Bruce Boudreau, who led the South to a 7-4 win in the 1999 ECHL All-Star Game and Mississippi to the 1999 Kelly Cup Championship, is in his third season as head coach of Manchester of the AHL.

Doug Shedden, who coached the USA/World in the 1998 ECHL All-Star Game and who coached the South to a 7-4 win in the 1999 ECHL All-Star Game, is in his first season as head coach of St. John's in the AHL. Shedden helped Louisiana reach the ECHL Playoffs in each of its first four seasons, including the 1997 Kelly Cup Finals and the 1998 Southern Conference Finals.

The coaches for the 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star Game are Alaska's Davis Payne and Gwinnett's Jeff Pyle for the Western Conference and Johnstown's Toby O'Brien and Peoria's Jason Christie for the Eastern Conference.

There are nine former ECHL coaches in the NHL including Peter Laviolette, who is head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. Twenty former ECHL players have made their first NHL appearance since playing in the ECHL in 2003-04, bringing the total number of ECHL players in the NHL to 234. There were 53 former ECHL players on NHL opening-day rosters, surpassing the record of 50 players set in 2002-03. The ECHL has affiliations with 21 of the 30 teams in the NHL in 2003-04 and there has been an ECHL player on each of the 30 NHL teams in 2003-04. There are former ECHL coaches behind the bench on 14 of the 28 AHL teams, and the ECHL has affiliation agreements with 21 of the 28 teams in the AHL in 2003-04.

Former Greenville broadcasters Corey Masse, who worked the 2000 ECHL All-Star Game, and Bill McLaughlin, who worked the 2002 ECHL All-Star Game, are now in the AHL with Providence and Bridgeport, respectively. Former Pensacola equipment manager Rob Thomson, who worked the 1999 ECHL All-Star Game, went on to become an equipment manager for the Atlanta Thrashers of the NHL.

Sponsored by the Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino and hosted by the Peoria Rivermen, the 12th Annual ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition will be held at the 9,919-seat Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Ill. The Skills Competition will be at 7:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, January 20 and the game will be played at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, January 21. Tickets to the All-Star Game and Skills Competition are available by telephone at (309) 676-1040 x106.

ECHL Stories from January 13, 2004

• Shorthanded Rivermen Prevail 3-1 in Cincinnati - Peoria Rivermen
• Generals feel burn of Inferno - Greensboro Generals
• Sea Wolves Outduel Gladiators, 2-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
• Pensacola Drops Everblades 3-1 - Florida Everblades
• Gladiators fall to Sea Wolves, 2-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
• Bombers Sign Onetime San Jose Shark Dody Wood - Dayton Bombers
• Checkers Jamieson To Replace Inman On ECHL All-Star Roster - Charlotte Checkers
• Rivermen Acquire Rugged Left Wing Goetz From Florence - Peoria Rivermen
• Naud Returning to Pride - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
• Greenville's Lind Suspended Two Games - ECHL
• Stirling Headed To All-Star Game - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
• Limpright Added to All-Star Team - Roanoke Express
• Josh Gratton Loaned to AHL - San Diego Gulls
• Seven Former ECHL All-Star Coaches In NHL, AHL - ECHL
• Today In The ECHL - ECHL
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• Rowe Announced 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star Starter - Peoria Rivermen
• Par-A-Dice All-Star Game Replacements Announced - ECHL
• Lord's Stanley's Cup to Appear at 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star Events - Peoria Rivermen
• Steve Lowe Added to Clones Roster to Complete Trade with Texas - Cincinnati Cyclones
• Columbus' Tapp Named ITECH HOCKEY ECHL Saver of the Week - ECHL
• Curtin Named ECHL Player of the Week - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
• Ice Pilots In The Middle Of A Four Game Road Trip - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Philadelphia Phillies to Visit Reading - Reading Royals
• Curtin is the InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
• Underhill Raises over $3,100 for Fire Victims - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
• Aquino Returns to Gladiators - Atlanta Gladiators
• Hill Reassigned to Blades From Lowell - Florida Everblades
• Today In The ECHL - ECHL
• Smith Called up to San Antonio - Alaska Aces
• Stanley Cup To Be On Display During 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star Game Events - ECHL

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