Todd Nelson hired as Oklahoma City Barons Head Coach

As it was confirmed by numerous sources including the The Daily Oklahoman, the Edmonton Journal and the The Pipeline Show, it was officially announced yesterday that the Edmonton Oilers Org. announced that Todd Nelson will be the team's first ever Head Coach at the Cox Convention Center where they are in the late stages of the Reinvention Project as the Barons get ready for the team's first season to start in October.


Nelson was a member of the Atlanta Thrashers Coaching Staff for the last two seasons before Team Ownership Group Atlanta Spirit, LLC cleaned house just after the regular season where the Thrashers once again missed the playoffs by just 5 points behind 8th Place Montreal and the Philadelphia Flyers who later made the Stanley Cup Finals.


Joining Nelson in Oklahoma City for the team's first season will be Kelly Buchberger and Steve Smith.


As for Buchberger, he was the Head Coach of the old Edmonton Oilers Affiliate in Springfield, Mass. While Smith was a scout for the last two years for the Chicago Blackhawks.


Edmonton Oilers Ast. GM Ricky Olczyk officially introduced Nelson and Fleming at the Cox Center and will be overseeing operations while its unclear who will be the FM for the Oklahoma City Barons who will be the big man in OKC.



Quotes from Nelson in the Daily Oklahoman:


"Our Goal is to win the Calder Cup," Nelson Said. "And there's no better time then the first year."


"I knew that I'd have to come back to the American Hockey League to be a head coach and move back up," Nelson said. "It was a lot of pressure up there to win. If you don't win, you don't have a job for very long and I lived that. It was a great time in Atlanta. I enjoyed my time there but right now i'm looking for a fresh start somewhere else and looking forward to coaching in Oklahoma City."


"Our job as a staff is to develop players for Edmonton and help them win the Stanley Cup as well as develop a winning culture in Oklahoma City," Nelson said. "I think winning is a part of the development." You want both cities to prosper."





Other Notable Quotes



Edmonton Oilers Assistant GM Ricky Olczyk


"He's had success at entry level he's been at," Olczyk said. "He understands our two principles that we want to achieve our winning and development. The other thing is he's highly motivated. He gets the most out of every player."


"We think he'll compliment Todd really well and deliver on the plan that were expecting to implement moving forward.





Oklahoma City Barons Assistant Coach Gerry Fleming


"This organization, I feel, is moving in the right direction," Fleming said. "The Players, the free agent signings, it's just a great time to part of the Edmonton organization, so it was a no brainier for me."



Other Postings

Full Story from the Daily Oklahoman

The Pipeline Show

From the Oklahoma City Barons Website: http://www.okcbarons.com/

GM Steve Tambellini announced today that the Edmonton Oilers have appointed Kelly Buchberger and Steve Smith as assistant coaches to Tom Renney and named Todd Nelson Head Coach of the Oklahoma City Barons in the AHL.

Buchberger, 43, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach to the Edmonton Oilers. Prior to that the former Oilers Captain was Head Coach of the Springfield Falcons, the Oilers former AHL Affiliate where he guided the team to a 35-35-10 record. Under Berchbergers guidance, the Falcons showed a 21 point improvement over their record of 28-49-3 in 2006-2007.

A veteran of 18 National Hockey League Seasons, including 13 with the Edmonton Oilers, Buchberger began his coaching career in 2004-2005, serving an assistant coach with the AHL's Edmonton Roadrunners. He held the position of the Oilers Development Coach in 2006-2007.

Smith, who spent the past two years as a scout of the Chicago Blackhawks, re-joins the team that drafted him back in 1981.

The 47 year old from Glasgow, Scotland native had a solid career in the NHL playing 804 games recording 375 points (72G, 303A) and 2,139 penalty minutes. He won three Stanley Cups while the Oilers and made it to the Finals twice more with the Blackhawks. In 134 post season games Smith had 52 points (11G 41A).

"Steve was an integral part of the Oilers on the blue line," said Tambellini. "He will be playing an important role in developing our young defense group."

Smith also served as an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames during the 1997-1998 season but elected to return to the ice playing three more seasons with the Flames before retiring.

Nelson, who spent the two previous seasons as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Thrashers, is the Barons first head coach since becoming Edmonton's AHL Affiliate this summer.

"Todd demonstrated a winning record and attitude throughout his professional career and we know that he will be a very valuable asset mentoring and developing our players in Oklahoma City." said Tambellini. "He has a wealth of experience both as a player and a coach in the NHL & AHL, which will be an added benefit to our organization. We are extremely excited to have him as our coach."

Prior to being with the Thrashers, Nelson was also an assistant coach with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL from 2006-2008. In the last season with the Wolves the team won the Calder Cup, had an impressive regular season record of 46-25-9 and broke or matched 30 franchise records.

Nelson, who hails from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, spent three seasons (2003-2006) as Head Coach of the Muskegon Fury in the UHL. In the first two seasons with the Fury the team was a Colonial Cup Champions. Nelson is the all time winningest coach in Fury Club History was 149-58-25 record.

Nelson was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 4th round, 79th overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft following a solid Junior Career with the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL.

Gerry Fleming, who was an assistant coach with the Springfield Falcons the last two seasons, will continue the same role under Nelson's Leadership.

Former Player bcome's the new coach of the Houston Aeros

A former player in Mike Yeo who helped the Aeros 1999 Tuner Cup when the Aeros were in the old IHL has become the 8th head coach in the team's history which goes back to 1994. He was a part of the Aeros inaugural year when the team started in 1994 and shortly left after the Aeros won the Turner Cup in 1999.

Since then he's been in the coaching ranks as an assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 2005 after the Lockout where he helped the Penguins to a 47 point improvement which was the 4th biggest turnaround in a single year in league history.

This will be Yeo's first Head Coaching job at any level in his career as he hopes to turnaround the Aeros after finishing last in the West Division with a 34-34-7 record just a year after the team made the AHL Western Conference Final before losing to the Manitoba Moose.

From the Houston Aeros Website: www.aeros.com

Audio Interview Part 1: www.aeros.com/fancenter/multimedia/player/?mediaid=2136

Audio Interview Part 2: www.aeros.com/fancenter/multimedia/player/?mediaid=2137

Houston Aeros General Manager Jim Mill today named Former Aero Mike Yeo as the team's new head coach. Yeo, who spent the last five years as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins, helped lead the Penguins to the 2008-2009 Stanley Cup Championship. He also played five seasons with the Aeros 1994-99 and was the captain of Houston's 1999 Turner Cup Winning Team.

"After an extensive search that included an outstanding group of candidates we are excited to name Mike Yeo the new head coach of the Houston Aeros," Mill said. "He has been a winner at all levels and is a great fit for Houston and the Wild Organization."

Yeo, 36, joined the Penguins coaching staff when Michel Therrien was named Head Coach in December, 2005. In 2006-07, his first full season with the Penguins, Yeo helped lead the team to a 47 point turnaround, the fourth biggest turnaround from one year to another in NHL History.

The following season, the Penguins won the Eastern Conference Championship for the first time since 1992, before falling to Detroit in the Stanley Cup Final. Yeo remained assistant coach under Dan Byslma, who replaced Dan Therrien in February, 2009, and Pittsburgh went on to its third Stanley Cup Title in team history.

"I am thrilled to be a part of the Wild Organization and rejoin the Houston Community," Yeo Said. "I look forward to building on the success the Aeros have est. over the past 16 years."

Prior joining the Pittsburgh Penguins coaching staff, Yeo spent six seasons as assistant coach for the W-B/Scranton Penguins, Pittsburgh's American Hockey League (AHL) Affiliate. He began his coaching career at 26 after suffering a career ending injury while playing for W-B/Scranton during the 1999-2000 season.

In his six seasons behind the bench, Yeo helped the Penguins earn a Western Conference Title in 2001, an Eastern Conference Title in 2005 and two berths in the Calder Cup Finals.

The native of North Bay, Ontario, joined the Aeros in 1994 after playing four seasons with the Sudbury Wolves (OHL). The left winger posted 127 points (55G 72A) and 511 PIM in 317 games with the Aeros, including career highs of 20 goals, 21 assists, 41 points and 128 PIM during the 1997-98 season. As captian of the 1998-1999 team, Yeo also lead the Aeros to the 1998-1999 championship.

Amarillo NAHL Team names Head Coach, to announce teamname on Friday

The new NAHL Team in Amarillo, Texas is starting to take shape as the team still yet to be named has named Dennis Williams originally from Bowling Green State University (CCHA) as the teams first head coach in team history.

In addition to today's coaching announcement, the team-name and logo will be announced on Friday as the they are 3 finalist from a name the team contest that was going on over the last couple of months, right now, the name is down to 3 finalist as the team will be either called the Bulls, Storm or Orsprey which will be announced on Friday at 1:30 PM at the Amarillo Civic Center in the Hospitality Room.

It is open to the fans and media as well as some of the sponsors and partners who have signed on



From the North American Hockey League Website: http://www.nahl.com/


The Amarillo, Texas Team that will begin play in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) this fall has announced that Dennis Williams has been named the clubs first head coach.


Williams joins the Amarillo team from Bowling Green State University (CCHA) where he served as the Falcons head coach.


"I've known Dennis for a few years and he comes highly recommended by former alumni and his previous employers and players," said Gary Gelinas, exc. vice president Consolidated Sports, owners of the Amarillo team. "For us to secure the services 0f a former Division 1 Player and head coach was very important for the program and this gives us instant credibility in the league and for recruiting."


Williams returned to Bowling Green - his alma matter - as an assistant coach f0r the 2008-2009 season after a very successful start to his career behind the bench, in just six years as a coach, Williams proved himself a solid teacher and someone capable 0f changing the direction of a program.

"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to join Amarillo and the North American Hockey League," said Williams. "I'd like to think Gary Gelinas for this opportunity and I look forward to building a great championship winning hockey program. I also look forward to meeting the players and the community of Amarillo.

"Our team will play with high energy and will compete for every puck. We'll be physically and mentally tough and play hard for 60 minutes. The Players will be involved in the community and my expectations are to not only succeed on the ice, but off the ice."

"I'm going to do my best to prepare the players not only to win hockey games, but for there future opportunities to advance to college hockey."

Prior to serving as an assistant coach under Danton Cole at the University of Alabama-Huntsville (CHA) in 2007-2008, Williams was the head coach at Neumann College (ECAC West) from 2003-2006. In just three short years, he built the Knights into a Division 3 Powerhouse, taking a team with a 3-21-1 overall record the year before he arrived to a 17-5-5 mark and a top 5 national ranking in his final season, which included the best two seasons in the school's history.

"Having the opportunity to coach college hockey for the past 8 years at both the Division 1 and Division 3 levels and with an understanding of what it takes to play at the collegiate level and the academic expectations, I feel I can help guide our players there," said Williams.

"Dennis will be an integral part of building this program for years to come and we welcome him to org. and to Amarillo," Gelinas added.

Williams played for the Falcons from 1997 to 2001. He was the Howard Brown Coaches Award Recipient following the 2000-2001 season, recognizing him as the person who best exemplified professional qualities, both on and off the ice, en route to leading the Falcons to a CCHA Semifinal Appearance that season.

Following his graduation in 2001, Williams served as the first graduated assistant at BG in 2002 before moving on to serve as an assistant coach at Utica College (ECAC West) during the 2003-2004 season.

A native of Stranford, Ontario, Williams earned his Masters Degree in marketing education from BGSU in 2003 and his bachelor's degree in sports management in the summer of 2001, graduating cum lude.

Wichita Falls Wildcats fire John Bowkus

Back on Thursday night, the Wichita Falls Wildcats have fired head coach John Bowkus because of a disappointing season to this point. Coming off the near upset of the Topeka Roadrunners in last year's South Division Semifinals.

They was high hopes going into this season as that Wichita Falls was finally able to go up against the Topeka Roadrunners and the St. Louis Bandits for the South Division Title and a shot at this year's Robertson Cup Championship which will be in Wenatchee, Washington this season (Home of the Wenatchee Wild).

Team Owner Ray Davoult had no hard feelings for Bowkus who has been with the team 2004-05 season, he's been with the team since but it was felt like it was time for a chance and send the team in a new direction so the team can be more competitive and more successful in the post season and eventually get into the Robertson Cup Championship.

"John is a great friend and a great coach," said Wildcats owner Roy Davoult. "It was time for a change. I will support John in his future endeavors". He will be replaced by Mike Flanagan has a Robertson Cup Championship in his career when he was an assistant coach for the St. Louis Bandits and he was also the former head coach of the Kenai River Brown Bears.

Before coming into the North American Hockey League, He had experience with the Central States Hockey League (CSHL) which is one of 6 Jr. A Tier 3 leagues across the USA. He was the head coach of the Grand Rapids Owls for 5 seasons, and getting to the playoffs in 3 of those 5 years.

"Mike has some great coaching abilities and deserves a chance to become the future head coach of the Wildcats". said Davoult, he later went on to say "I've enjoyed working with John over the past 2 seasons, said Flanigan. "While it's under difficult circumstances, it's still a great opportunity".

The Wildcats plan to make him the interim head coach for the rest of the regular season and then will look for a permanent replacement over the off season depending on how the rest of the regular season goes and whatever or not the team makes the playoffs.

Going on to the weekend, the Wildcats were 10 points back of the Tornado and Jr. Blues who were tied for 3rd. For new head coach Mike Flanagan, it was a good start as the Wildcats sweeped the Tornado over the weekend with a 4-2 win where a 3 goal rally in the 3rd period helped them win.

While today's game just wrapped up with a 6-5 win today with a 3 goal 1st period to help them pull the gap within 6 points of both the Tornado and the Jr. Blues. However, the Texas Tornado have 4 games in hand against the Wildcats, so the Tornado will have a chance to pull away from the Wildcats in the last 2 months of the season.

Here's a look at the Wichita Falls Wildcats Schedule and Stats.

Wichita Falls Wildcats Schedule: http://nahl.stats.pointstreak.com/teamschedule.html?teamid=13176&seasonid=4527

Wichita Falls Wildcats Team Stats: http://nahl.stats.pointstreak.com/teamplayerstats.html?teamid=13176&seasonid=4527