Press Release
CHESTERFIELD, VA. - The Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL) has announced that Mark Kumpel has been named its director of hockey operations.
Kumpel, who is currently serving as the head coach of the Walpole
Express, will assume his new duties at the conclusion of the AJHL
season.
“We couldn’t be happier to have such an experienced and well-respected
individual like Mark oversee our league,” said Northern Cyclones
governor Bill Flanagan, who also serves as chairman of
the AJHL’s board of governors. “He’s a prominent hockey figure not only
in New England, but across North America, and his familiarity with our
league and the Junior and college hockey landscapes are tremendous
assets as we continue to advance more and more of our student-athletes
to the NCAA and professional ranks.”
“I’m excited for the opportunity to help build on the tremendous success
the AJHL has experienced over the last 10 years,” said Kumpel. “With
all our ownership groups committed to the development and advancement of
our student-athletes, coupled with our experienced and well-connected
coaching staffs, the AJHL has established itself as one of the most
highly-regarded Junior leagues in North America and I’m looking forward
to helping build on its already-strong foundation.”
Among Kumpel’s day-to-day duties will be handling all AJHL hockey
operations, working with each coaching staff to ensure new AJHL
standards are met across the board and helping brand the AJHL name with
youth players around the country.
No stranger to the AJHL, Kumpel has guided the Express to three
consecutive league playoff championships from 2009-12, including two
regular-season titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
During that span, Walpole fashioned a 124-14-8 overall record; the
Express finished this year’s regular season with a 29-11-4 mark, good
for 62 points and a second-place finish in the AJHL standings.
As a player, the Wakefield, Mass., native skated for the University of
Massachusetts-Lowell from 1979-83 before embarking on a lengthy
professional career in the National Hockey League (NHL) and American
Hockey League (AHL).
Kumpel, who was also a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team, played 288
games in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques, Detroit Red Wings and
Winnipeg Jets, totaling 38 goals for 84 points.
Prior to his head coaching stint with the Express, Kumpel served as head
coach of the Nashville Knights and Dayton Bombers of the ECHL and
Portland Pirates of the AHL. He also scouted for the NHL’s Atlanta
Thrashers.
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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