SteelHounds Name Kevin Kaminski Head Coach

Published on September 13, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - The Youngstown SteelHounds of the Central Hockey League (CHL) and owner Herb Washington announced today that Kevin Kaminski has been named the team's Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations.

"Kevin brings a lot of experience to our organization," said Washington. "He was a hard nosed player in the NHL and knows what it takes to compete as a professional. He has also been a head coach for two teams (Long Beach, Missouri) and is well respected within the hockey community and has numerous contacts at the highest levels that will further insure the SteelHounds success."

Kaminski, 37, has played in 139 career NHL games scoring 13 points (3-10=13) with 528 penalty minutes. During his time in the "show", the Churchbridge, Saskatchewan native used his physical style to antagonize the toughest in the sport dropping gloves with the likes of Bob Probert, Tie Domi, Shane Churla and Paul Laus. His time in the NHL was spent with three teams seeing action with Minnesota, Quebec and Washington. It was with the Capitals where Kaminski saw his most memorable times in the NHL becoming a fan favorite in the nation's capital after dressing in 132 games over four seasons. He eclipsed the 100 penalty minute mark in three of his four years missing only during the 1993-94 season when he amassed 87 minutes in just 13 games.

After retiring from hockey in 1999, Kaminski joined the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks as an assistant coach to current Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock where he served for two seasons. With Cincinnati, Kaminski coached such current NHL stars as J.S. Giguere (Anaheim), Ilya Bryzgalov (Anaheim) and Jason Williams (Detroit). In 2002, Kaminski received his first head coaching job taking over for the Long Beach Ice Dogs, previously of the West Coast Hockey League but now of the ECHL. After two seasons with Long Beach, Kaminski became the Head Coach and General Manager of the Missouri River Otters of the United Hockey League (UHL). With the Otters, Kaminski guided his team to the playoffs and carried a 42-32-6 regular season mark.

"I would like to thank Herb Washington and Joe Gregory for this exciting opportunity," said Kaminski. "I am thrilled to be a part of such an established and well-run league, and to be a part of the Youngstown community. I am looking forward to the challenge of building a foundation through discipline, pride in our work ethic, our care-factor and professionalism. Our goal is to win through character, and bring a championship to Youngstown!"

Kaminski, nicknamed "Killer" when he played for eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), was drafted by Minnesota in the third round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He left one of his biggest impressions with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League (AHL) who were the primary affiliate of the Capitals. Between 1993-98, Kaminski played in 113 games with Portland leading them to the Calder Cup in 1994. During the team's championship run, Kaminski scored 9 points (4-5=9) and had a league high 91 penalty minutes in 16 games. His career with the Pirates saw him score 33 goals with 54 assists and 797 penalty minutes. He was inducted into the Portland Pirates Hall of Fame in 2000.

His first chance to get behind the bench for the Hounds will be Friday, October 13th when they host the Dayton Bombers in an exhibition game at the Chevrolet Centre. The regular season for Kaminski and the SteelHounds begins on the road Friday, October 20th versus the Memphis RiverKings and the home opener is slated for Friday, October 27th versus the Rocky Mountain Rage.

Kaminski and his wife Megan, along with daughters Alexia, 10, McKenna, 9, and Katarina, 4, will make the Mahoning Valley their home in the next few weeks.

For more information, please visit www.steelhounds.com or call 330-747-PUCK (7825).

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Central Hockey League Stories from September 13, 2006


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