Monday, April 12, 2010

Dubuque Names Jim Montgomery Head Coach

Press Release

DUBUQUE, IA. – Northern Lights Hockey, LLC announced today that the Dubuque Fighting Saints have named Jim Montgomery as Head Coach and General Manager of the new United States Hockey League team that will begin play this Fall at the new Mystique Ice Center. The team also announced that former Dubuque Thunderbirds Head Coach Joe Coombs will serve as Associate Head Coach and Bobby Kinsella will serve as Assistant Coach and Director of Scouting.

"It is with great pleasure that we welcome Jim Montgomery as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Dubuque Fighting Saints." said Brad Kwong, Managing Partner of Northern Lights Hockey. "After conducting a lengthy and thorough search process and speaking to a number of highly qualified candidates over the last few months, it became clear to us that Jim was the right candidate for our organization. Jim has great character and has demonstrated throughout his career to be a true competitor, a born leader and a winner. His knowledge of and passion for the game impressed us throughout the process. We could not be more thrilled with the hiring of Jim, Joe Coombs and Bobby Kinsella, as we have assembled a first-class coaching staff that we believe will be regarded as one of the very best in the USHL and will allow us to continue to build on the great hockey tradition here in Dubuque."

Montgomery, 40, spent the last four years as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. and played a critical role in upgrading RPI's talent level during his tenure. Montgomery began his college coaching career as a volunteer assistant under Jeff Jackson at the University of Notre Dame before moving on to RPI in 2006.

Montgomery played college hockey at the University of Maine. He is one of only three players to have his jersey (No. 19) retired at Alfond Arena. Montgomery is the University of Maine's all-time leading scorer with 301 points on 103 goals and 198 assists in 170 career games. He captained the 1992-93 team to the school's first NCAA championship as the Black Bears went 42-1-2. That year, Montgomery was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, the annual award which recognizes the top NCAA Men's Ice Hockey player. The winner of the award that year was his linemate and current St. Louis Blues left wing Paul Kariya.

Prior to becoming a coach, the Montreal native played professional hockey from 1993 -2005. Montgomery spent parts of six seasons in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues (1993-94 season), Montreal Canadiens (1994-95 season), Philadelphia Flyers (1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons), San Jose Sharks (2000-01 season) and Dallas Stars (2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons). In addition, he played professionally in Russia and Italy as well as in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League and United Hockey League.

Coombs, 34, joins the Fighting Saints after a very successful tenure as the Head Coach of the Dubuque Thunderbirds of the Central States Hockey League (USA Hockey Tier III Junior A). Over the last five years, the Brantford, Ontario native led the Thunderbirds to an overall regular season record of 151-23-4-5 and three Hurster Cup Championships (2007, 2008, and 2009). Prior to joining the Thunderbirds in 2005, Coombs served as the Head Coach of the Topeka Tarantulas of the Central Hockey League during the 2004-05 season. From 2001-2004, Coombs served as an Assistant Coach in the USHL. First for the Topeka Scarecrows and then the St. Louis Heartland Eagles when the team moved to St. Louis prior to the 2003-04 season. Prior to beginning his coaching career in 2001, Coombs played professionally from 1996 - 2001 in the IHL, ECHL, CHL and WPHL. From 1992 – 96, Coombs played in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the three Major Junior leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League - first for the Kitchener Rangers and then the Belleville Bulls.

"We are very pleased to name Joe Coombs our Associate Head Coach of the Fighting Saints" said Kwong. "Joe built a very successful hockey program with the Dubuque Thunderbirds over the last five years and has proven to be a talented and committed coach. In addition, he is well respected and admired in the Dubuque community and being able to bring him to the Saints is an honor for us. Working closely with Jim and Bobby, we know that he will be a major contributor to the development of our players and the success of our team."

Kinsella, 35, joins the Fighting Saints after spending the last two seasons as the General Manager / Head Coach of the Boston Junior Rangers (Midget AAA-u18) of the North American Prospects Hockey League. During his two seasons with the Junior Rangers, the Brockton, Massachusetts native led the team to over 30 wins each season. During his time with the Rangers, Kinsella also served as an Amateur Scout for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League.

Prior to joining the Boston Junior Rangers, Kinsella spent five years with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL (2003-2008) – first as a scout (2003-2005) and then as Assistant Coach /Director of Scouting & Recruiting (2005-2008). During Kinsella's three years as Assistant Coach, the Musketeers had over a half dozen NHL Draft Picks, including two players selected in the first round. In addition, over 50 players received scholarships to play hockey for NCAA Division I colleges & universities. In 2007 and 2008, Kinsella was selected to coach the Western Conference All-Stars at the USHL All-Star Game.

"Bobby Kinsella is highly regarded in the hockey community for his ability to identify and recruit top junior hockey players. As scouting and recruiting is our lifeline for success, Bobby will play a critical role in helping Jim and Joe build an exciting and competitive team for years to come".

Joe Coombs, his wife Shannon and three children currently live in Dubuque. Montgomery, his wife Emily and son James Peter will be moving to Dubuque later this Spring as will Kinsella and his fiancée Jenny who will be married this July.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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