Siciliano To Receive Distinguished Service Award
Published on January 28, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
The United States Hockey League is pleased to announce that Dave Siciliano, former head coach of the Thunder Bay Flyers and the Sioux City Musketeers, is the 2009 recipient of the USHL Distinguished Service Award. Siciliano will receive his award at the 2009 USHL Prospects/All-Star Game banquet, to be held in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Tuesday, February 3.
The award is presented to an individual or individuals who have rendered extraordinary service to the USHL. There are no restrictions concerning persons eligible for the award or the number of awards that may presented in any given year.
Siciliano is the lone honoree this year.
"This award is a great honor and I am thrilled to have been nominated," Siciliano said. "I coached because of my thirst for competition and passion for the sport, my desire to help others achieve their goals, and for the enjoyment and challenge of building a team. I also enjoyed the opportunity to help develop the USHL into its status as the only Tier I junior hockey league in the United States.
Siciliano, a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, played in the USHL when it was a professional league, suiting up for the Marquette Iron Rangers and the Thunder Bay Twins. His USHL coaching career began with the Thunder Bay Flyers in 1986. He spent seven years behind the Flyers' bench, fashioning a 249-77-10 record. He helped the Flyers win four Anderson Cups (1988, 1989, 1991, and 1992) and two Clark Cups (1988, 1989). His Flyers team of 1988-89 is arguably the best in the history of the USHL. Not only did they capture the Anderson and Clark Cups, but they also won the Centennial Cup, the symbol of Tier II hockey supremacy in Canada. The team had an overall record of 60-10-2 on the year and became the first team based in a United States league to win the national championship.
The 1988-89 Flyers were led by Greg Johnson, who would go on to collegiate stardom at the University of North Dakota and a long NHL career. Johnson was named the Canadian Junior Player of the Year in 1989, the first player playing in a United States-based league to win that honor.
"That was the best overall team that I coached in the USHL. They were highly skilled, possessed great speed, played with intensity and intelligence and were very tough," Siciliano said. "It was a very hard combination to beat.
"Our team winning the Centennial Cup and Greg being named player of the year put the Flyers and the USHL on the Canadian hockey landscape."
Siciliano left the Flyers and the USHL in 1993 to pursue other coaching opportunities, which took him to major junior hockey and the international stage. He returned to the USHL in 2000 with the Sioux City Musketeers, and again enjoyed success.
In his second season, the Musketeers placed fourth overall in the USHL, but fought their way through the playoffs and claimed the team's first Clark Cup title since 1986. With that win also came a national championship, giving him one in both the United States and Canada. In eight seasons with the Musketeers, Siciliano compiled a 273-160-44 record.
"It was a real pleasure working with Dave for the six years we were together. Dave was always professional in his approach to the game, the players, and to the league. He was respected by his peers, the college community, and the NHL scouts, all of whom often sought his opinion," said Sioux City President Jim Kronschnabel. "More then that, Dave and his wife Carol became very good friends of mine and an integral part of the Musketeers organization. I miss them but wish them the best."
Siciliano retired after the 2007-08 season as the winningest coach in the history of both the Flyers and the Musketeers. In 15 seasons, Siciliano went 522-237-54, and he never had a season where his team finished below .500. His 522 wins are second in USHL history, behind Mike Hastings (529) and he is one of just three coaches to win 500-plus games. His 803 games coached are second behind only Bob Ferguson (873), and they are the only two coaches to coach in 800-plus games. He and Ferguson are the only two coaches to win at least 200 games with two different teams.
He is a three-time USHL Coach of the Year (1987, 1989, and 1991) and coached in four USHL All-Star Games.
"Coaching in the USHL with the Thunder Bay Flyers and the Sioux City Musketeers were the most enjoyable times I spent coaching hockey," Siciliano said.
Previous USHL Distinguished Service Award Honorees
Ted Baer
Jack Barzee
Scott Brand
Ted Carlson
John Cowley
Bob Ferguson
Ed and Billie Hanes
Stanley E. Hubbard, II
Butch Johnson
Ellis Moose
Dave Tyler
Ken Williamson
Ron Woodey
The USHL is celebrating its 30th season of junior hockey in 2008-09. With over 140 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 16 NHL Draft picks playing in the league, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.ushl.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2009
- Stanley Cup Champion Shjon Podein to Emcee All-Star Dinner - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm Forward Selected for All-Star Game - Tri-City Storm
- Siciliano To Receive Distinguished Service Award - USHL
- Stampede add Corey Tropp to Roster - Sioux Falls Stampede
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