New Coach

SinD · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject: New Coach

The Corpus Christi IceRays hired Sylvain Cloutier as their new head coach.

“Coach Cloutier has won at all levels as a player. He has been a great player/coach and now it is his time to shine as a head coach," IceRays general manager Pat Dunn said. "He brings with him a great tradition of winning. When a great hockey coach and expert like Barry Melrose former ESPN analyst and new head coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning calls you three times to recommend someone, you have to at least listen. I believe Sylvain is hungry and knows how to win. He has players now that are waiting to follow him showing the kind of leader he is. He wants to prove himself and Corpus Christi is just the place to do it."

Cloutier played junior hockey with the Guelph Storm of the OHL. He was drafted in the third round by the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. He played seven NHL games for the Chicago BlackHawks in 1998. He won the Calder cup (AHL) with the Houston Aeros in 2003 where he was the captain of the team. He most recently won back to back championships in the elite league in England where he served as a player/assistant coach.

Cloutier resides in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Sylvain is older brother of Dan Cloutier, NHL goaltender for the LA Kings.

"We told the fans we would search the country and Canada to find what we thought was the best coach and get that coach no matter what it took," Ice Rays vice president Brent Chesney said. "Pat Dunn has done a great job in taking 32 coaching candidates, narrowing it down to three phenomenal ones and picking Sylvain Cloutier.

"The coach has agreed to a two-year deal with an option at our discretion for the third year proving he is committed to making this program into a winner. I speak also for majority owner Tim Lange when I say that we are both very pleased with Pat Dunn’s first major hire. He is off to a great start with Sylvain and we think not only will he win but he will be a positive force in the coastal bend as well.”
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CORPUS CHRISTI ICERAYS RETURN!!!!
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