Friday, May 24, 2013

Jay Varady Named New Head Coach and General Manager of Musketeers

Press Release

 Sioux City, IA. - The Sioux City Musketeers pleased to announce that Jay Varady will be the new Head Coach and General Manager of the Musketeers Hockey Team. Varady will begin his new position with the team immediately.

Varady comes to Sioux City by way of Angers, France, where he was the Head Coach for the Les Ducs d'Angers for the last two seasons. Over the last two seasons, Angers achieved an overall regular season and cup record of 55-14-6, while winning 4 playoff rounds with Varady at the helm. Angers was the regular season champions in 2012-2013, and made it all the way to the finals in league playoffs.

Jay began his hockey career in the USHL back in 1995-96 season, when he played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. After two seasons with the Saints, he moved on to a college playing career with Union College, where he competed for three seasons. He jumped from playing hockey to coaching hockey with Union College immediately after a playing career ended after the 1999-2000 season.  He spent his senior seasons as a volunteer assistant with Union before moving on to an Assistant Coach position with Pittsburgh of the NAHL.  From Pittsburgh, Jay moved on to Everett in the WHL, where he served as an Assistant Coach for the first four seasons of his stay with the Silvertips.  He was promoted to Associate Head Coach of the Silvertips in his 5th season with the team, where he remained until he was hired as the Head coach of the Ducs in France at the end of the 2010-11 season.  Varady also has experience with the USA Hockey program, having served as the Video Coach for the World Junior team that won Gold in 2010 under the guidance of former USHL coach and current University of Nebraska Omaha Head Coach Dean Blais.

"We're excited to welcome Jay to our team” stated Musketeers Owner and President, Lloyd Ney. “He brings with him a strong work ethic, and a commitment to winning that our players and fans will recognize from day one.  As a former USHL captain, Jay knows our league, and he knows how to meet the goals of the team and the players.  He's a great choice to continue the progress of our hockey club"

When asked about his return to the USHL, Varady was elated.  “I am excited about the opportunity to return to the USHL, it is a great league with a long history of developing players.  We are looking to continue the tradition of great hockey in Sioux City.  Our staff will work every day to build a team that the fan base can be proud of while providing our players with the opportunity to reach their goals.”

A press conference introducing Jay as the new Head Coach and General Manager has been scheduled for 2:00pm on Thursday, June 20th at the IBP Ice Center.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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