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Siciliano Announces Retirement

Published on March 31, 2008 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release


GRAND FORKS, N.D.: Sioux City Musketeers head coach and general manager Dave Sicliano announced his retirement from coaching at a press conference Monday at the Tyson Events Center. Siciliano's retirement is effective at the end of the season and was announced now to avoid causing distraction to his team during their Clark Cup playoff run.

"When our ownership group took over in 2002, we had some challenges, but one area I never had to worry about was the hockey side of the business," said Sioux City president Jim Kronschnabel. "I thought we had one of the best coaches in junior hockey when I came here and now I know after working with Dave for the past six years that we do have the best coach in junior hockey."

Siciliano is in his 15th year coaching in the USHL and eighth with Sioux City. He is the all-time leader in wins for the Musketeers, going 272-158-44 to date. He guided the Musketeers to the Tier I National Championship in 2002 and in his eight years has helped 73 players earn Division I scholarships. He has seen 17 of his former Sioux City players taken in the NHL Draft.

Prior to Sioux City, Siciliano spent seven seasons at the helm of the Thunder Bay Flyers, leading them to a 249-77-10 record, a record that also makes him the winningest coach in the history of that franchise (now the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets). Siciliano coached the Flyers during the years when they were a league powerhouse, and led the team of 1988-89 which was arguably one of the best the USHL has ever seen. In addition to Anderson and Clark Cup championships, the Flyers also claimed the Centennial Cup (now the Royal Bank Cup), which goes to the Tier II Junior A National Champions in Canada. That team featured a future college and professional star in Greg Johnson, who was named the Canadian Junior A Player of the Year, marking the first time that a player who played in a United States-based league was awarded the honor.

His teams have won the Anderson Cup as the regular season champions of the USHL four times (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992) and the Clark Cup as USHL playoff champions three times (1988, 1989, 2002). All of the titles with the exception of 2002 came with Thunder Bay. The 2002 title is significant as it was the first year that the USHL was classified as a Tier I league and the Clark Cup championship also made Sioux City the Tier I National Champions.

"What can you say about Dave Siciliano that hasn't already been said? He coaches, teaches, and wins with class year-in and year-out. It has been a real privilege working with one of the all-time great coaches in junior hockey," said Kronschnabel. "He has been the face of the Sioux City Musketeers since we purchased the team and he put this organization back on the map. For that, and everything else that he brought to our organization and our community we are truly grateful. He and his wife Carol will be sorely missed by all in Sioux City."

Siciliano reached a pair of coaching milestones this season. Earlier in the year, he broke the 500-win barrier and currently is in second place on the league's all-time win list with 521. He also became the second coach in league history to coach in 800 games, and is currently second on that list as well at 810. His all-time record in the USHL is 521-235-54, not including playoff games.

"In the history of this league there have been a select few coaches who have had a tremendous impact on the evolution of this league to what it is today. Dave is certainly at the top of that list," said USHL president Gino Gasparini. "He has not only impacted players, he has impacted other coaches and the team and league operations with his professionalism."

Siciliano will be leaving Sioux City and returning to his hometown of Thunder Bay. A successor to his post in Sioux City has not been named at this time.

The USHL is America's only Tier I league and the premier path for developing players in America. The league has over 160 current players committed to Division I colleges and 19 players that have been selected in the NHL Draft. For more information on the USHL and its member teams, visit us on the web at www.ushl.com

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