PAT CONACHER CONTINUES WITH FRANCHISE AS PART OF VICTORIA WHL COACHING STAF

Press Release

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Western Hockey League (WHL) Franchise is proud to announce that Pat Conacher will continue with the Victoria Franchise as their Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach after holding the same positions with Chilliwack last season. Conacher helped lead the Bruins to a 33-31-0-4 record in 2010-11 with a WHL Playoff berth.

The Edmonton, AB native brings a wealth of experience both as a player and coach to the Victoria franchise. Conacher won a Stanley Cup playing with the Edmonton Oilers during the 1983-84 season to highlight his 521 career games across a 17-year National Hockey League (NHL) career. The former forward spent his time in the NHL with the Oilers, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames.

“I have known Pat for 28 years and he brings a wealth of experience to our franchise” General Manager and Head Coach Marc Habscheid said. “He has played and coached at the NHL level as well as served as an agent and a colour analyst. His experience makes him an invaluable resource to our players and to me.”

Conacher rejoins General Manager and Head Coach Marc Habscheid behind the bench after being part of his coaching staff in Chilliwack last season. Conacher also was part of Habscheid’s Kelowna Rockets coaching staff during the 1999-00 season and played with him for two years (1983-84 and 1984-85) with the Oilers.

The 52 year-old began his coaching resume as a player-coach for the Canadian National Hockey Team in the 1997-98 season before spending three years as the Assistant Coach of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes between the 2001-02 and 2003-04 campaigns. Following his time in Phoenix, Conacher moved to become a head coach in the American Hockey League for two years with the Utah Grizzlies (2004-05) and San Antonio Rampage (2005-06). Prior to his season in Chilliwack he was most recently a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ scouting staff for two years (2007-08 and 2008-09).

Originally drafted by the Rangers in 1979 (round four, 76th overall), Conacher totaled 139 points (63g-76a) in his 521 career NHL contests. He also went to the Stanley Cup Final with the Kings in 1993, and was twice named their most inspirational player and unsung hero.

Conacher also played 459 games in the American Hockey League (AHL) between six teams where he scored 115 goals and 211 assists for 326 points.

Prior to becoming a professional hockey player, Conacher played for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s (SJHL) Battleford Barons in 1976-77 prior to one season with the WCHL’s Billings Bighorns (1977-78) and one campaign (1978-79) in the WHL split between the Bighorns and Saskatoon Blades

Following his playing career, Conacher spent one season (1997-98) as a radio color analyst for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)