Stampede add Assistant GM
February 23, 2004 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release
Sioux Falls, SD--Sioux Falls Stampede General Manager and Head Coach Mark Kaufman announced today the hiring of Jason Koehler as the clubÂ’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native brings an impressive resume to the Stampede. As a member of the Pittsburgh Forge of the North American Hockey League Koehler started his tenure as the clubÂ’s Assistant General Manager and earned his way to the General Manager position for the 2002-03 season. The Forge finished that season with the best regular season record and went on to claim the NAHLÂ’s league championship along with the National Junior A Championship.
In the two years of the clubÂ’s existence Koehler moved 24 players to NCAA Division One hockey programs and compiled an impressive 99-33-8 record in that time. The club has since ceased operations.
Koehler also brings National Hockey League experience to the Stampede. He spent one season with the NHLÂ’s Pittsburgh Penguins working as an assistant to Penguins executive vice president and general manager Craig Patrick regarding player contracts and arbitration issues. Koehler also assisted the Penguins coaching staff with player evaluation analysis.
“Jason provides us with a wealth of experience and background in regards to identifying, drafting, and procuring top end future Stampede players. His past successes are well documented,” said Mark Kaufman.
“The Stampede program has a great reputation as a first class organization,” stated Jason Koehler. “Mark Kaufman has a tremendous amount of knowledge coupled with Wade Nilson’s experience allows us to have one of the best staff’s in the USHL. The ownership group is fantastic and the commitment they continually make to their fan base is second to none. The future of Sioux Falls Stampede looks very bright as I see us being one of the best teams in the league in the 2004-05 season.”
Koehler will join Kaufman, assistant coach Wade Nilson, and John Kisil as the Stampede hockey operations staff. “We are thrilled with the addition of Koehler,” added Stampede CEO Gary Weckwerth. “With the core group of players that can come back and what I see on the recruiting board, Mark and his management team will fix the flat tire quickly.”
Koehler has a Business/Sports Administration degree from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.
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