St. Amour Named Head Coach
Published on May 3, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO â Martin St. Amour, the franchises' all-time leading scorer, has been named as the San Diego Gulls' new head coach, while Jamie Black has been named as the new assistant coach. Both will be formally introduced at a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Sports Arena.
St. Amour, 34, has been on the Gulls' coaching staff the last four seasons. He was the assistant coach in 2000-01 and was the club's associate coach the last three years. His playing career lasted 14 years, including eight with the West Coast Hockey League's Gulls.
The native of Montreal finished his playing days as the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 394 points. St Amour also ranks first all-time in franchise goals (180) and assists (214), third in games played (292), third in plus-minus (+161) and third in penalty minutes (927). He played on three WCHL Taylor Cup Championship teams (1996, 1997, 1998) with San Diego and, before retiring, was the last original WCHL Gull. In February 2001, the team honored St Amour by retiring his jersey No. 18. He was only the second player in San Diego professional hockey history to have his jersey retired. (The first was Willie O'Ree's No. 20.)
"This is certainly a fantastic opportunity for me," St. Amour said. "I've been with the organization for nine years and have seen five championship banners raised to the rafters here. I am going to work really hard in keeping the winning tradition alive. We've had great teams in San Diego and don't see any reason why that will change. My staff and I are prepared to do whatever it takes to bring home the Kelly Cup next season."
St. Amour's staff now includes his assistant Black, who is taking his first-ever position behind the bench. Black, 32, played 11 years professionally, which included four full seasons with the WCHL Gulls. He ranks 18th on San Diego's all-time scoring list with 130 points (40g, 90a) and was a member of two Taylor Cup Championship teams (2001 and 2003).
"I'm really looking forward to joining Martin behind the bench next season," Black said. "I loved playing in San Diego for the Gulls and I'm going to bring the same attitude behind the bench. There's going to be a lot of expectations to live up to, but both Martin and myself are ready for the challenge."
St. Amour takes over for Steve Martinson, who opted out of his contract once this past season concluded. Martinson coached the Gulls from 1995 to 2004, accumulating a 434-138-43 regular season record. He captured five Taylor Cups in his nine-year tenure (1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2003) and eight division titles.
Both St. Amour and Black will be formally introduced at a press conference, which is scheduled to take place Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Sports Arena.
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